Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question. So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet. On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street. What is the purpose of the author’s description of Della’s hair and clothing?

Answer 1

The author's purpose is to express that beauty is not only measured by the quality of the clothes worn, it also considers simple physical traits like beautiful long wavy hair and expressive sparkling eyes, so that Della shouldn't be deemed unworthy due to the fact that she has an old jacket and hat.

Answer 2

The description tells us that compared to her boring clothes, her hair was the most beautiful thing about her appearance. it shows how much her hair means to her