Imagery and ambience characterization in the "Unaccompanied Sonata"
Written by Michael Mangin
Published on December 20, 2010

For those who have not read the Unaccompanied Sonata by Orson Scott Card, the short story proves nothing short of miraculous. The story itself can really grab the reader and draw them in with only a few sentences read. It etches at the emotional state of the reader by introducing topics and subjects that catch the eye. The author explains the story of a man named Christian who gets punished for listening to a piece of music when originality should be preserved in the law's mind. The subject of government control appears, for the most part, quite a bit in writing. Orson Scott Card's, the author of the short story, deliberate use of imagery, ambience, and characterization hold the reader's attention by causing emotion to evoke throughout the text.

First, and foremost, the concept of imagery, which creates sensory feelings with the reader, seems very apparent throughout the story. Orson Scott Card uses the descriptions of persons, place and things to paint a picture in the reader's eye. He brings his story to life by engaging the reader. When one reads this story, they have no other option, but visualize what occurs. For example, when Christian was caught playing the piano, his fingered were removed: "And so the man with no ears took a laser knife from his coat pocket and cut off Christian's fingers and thumbs, right where they rotted into his hands. The laser cauterized and sterilized the wound as it cut, but still some blood spattered" (253). In other words, this example shows how the reader can easily be engaged with the imagery presented. Orson Scott Card vividly describes the "Watcher," who has no ears, as well as describing the damage done by the knife. Another example occurs at the road side crew, when describing one of the workers: "A short Mexican who spoke with an accent" (284). This shows how Orson Scott Card brings his characters to life with imagery. The characterization through imagery allows the reader to visualize the character and see who he personifies as an individual. With that, Orson Scott Card describes the same character with auditory imagery when he sings: "He'd join in with any man's song and harmonize with it, or sing an obbligato high above the melody, a soaring tenor that took the roof off his head and filled the clouds" (285). This example gives the notion that this man knows how to sing and sing very well. He clearly can "sing to the clouds" with a high level voice. This gives the reader into the insight of the same character using imagery. If one truly contemplates, they can see how imagery plays a large part in the "Unaccompanied Sonata. "

Orson Scott Card also uses ambience to draw off of the emotions of the reader. He provides such detail at times that the reader really feels bad for Christian. He uses this to characterize Christian as a musician and one who wishes to pursue his dream. For instance, the "birds cried out from his instrument" (278) and "the sounds of the forest outside his house found their way into the music he played" (278). This brings his music alive and draws the reader to want to hear the beautiful sounds of Christian's instrument. Just these quotes alone create a subtle and soothing ambience that the reader can feel has he or she reads the story. When the "Watcher" tells Christian that he can no longer play the instrument on page 281, it not only etches at the mind of the character, but also the reader. The ambience of the music draws them into the story and causes them to listen to the sounds of beauty in their mind. It is so peaceful. As a result, "silence clung to the man like a smell-wherever he walked, people sensed it" (282). Orson Scott Card now provides a vivid ambience of how others see him in the story. When the reader sees this, they feel lonely and silent themselves. Orson Scott Card also provides a sad ambience when he describes, "the man kept looking off in the dark where the piano stood" (282). The reader begins to feel sorrowful towards Christian and it shows his character. By the end of the story, the reader receives a warm and comforting feeling about Christian when Orson Scott Card applauds the "man with no fingers, a man with no voice." The very last line of the story, which reads, "It was a frenzied song and Christian thought he recognized his voice," provides the reader with a satisfaction that they read this story. The reader ends with peace to note that Christian's soul spreads content across the dystopian society. Orson Scott Card does a great job at bringing "Unaccompanied Sonata" to the emotional level through ambience.

Orson Scott Card provides a vivid short story that captures the attention of the reader. He provides great quotes that paint a picture of the characters and story. He also creates a mood that the reader can follow. After reading this story, one can infer that Orson Scott Card remains a person with a good heart to encourage others to pursue their dreams. After all of the pain and misery that Christian suffered from, he finally realized that it was not for nothing. Christian "knew when to leave the stage" and so does the reader. Orson Scott Card used many ways to portray his character, especially Christian, and two of those ways were through ambience and imagery. These items are crucial in understanding the plot set out by Orson Scott Card and the reader's interpretation of those items. Orson Scott Card achieves success in his writing by tying the story to the reader. One of the best, if not the best, tactic when writing a story.

Originally written for Ms. Ruttum's Composition 1020 College level class at Coronado High School