How I Met My Husband
by Alice Munro

"Nothing in the least pretty or even young-looking about her" (Munro). This sentence is a description of Alice through Edie's eyes. The diction Munro chooses makes the sentence sound harsh and judgmental. Edie's thoughts say that Alice is ugly and old. This is harsh characterization from someone who excuses her boss for saying something hurtful because she is ignorant and putting up with the gossiping Loretta Bird. Because this is out of Edie's character, there is obviously some other reason for Edie to dislike Alice.

Alice tells the other characters that she is Chris' fiancee and the reader knows that Edie goes over and talks to him every once in a while. Therefore, the diction suggests that Edie has become attached to Chris and is jealous of Alice. She is thinking these harsh words in her head because she wants to make feel like she is better than Alice. By making Edie seem think such harsh thoughts, Munro is letting the reader know that Edie has a crush on Chris.