Mansfield frequently uses hyperbole to convey Leila’s grand illusions about the ball and her immense enthusiasm. Particularly, Leila’s internal commentary and thoughts often include hyperbole, especially when describing her feelings about the ball and its beautiful atmosphere and environment.
For example, Leila’s internal narration when she first arrives at the dance hall is a hyperbolic description:
For it was thrilling. Her first ball! She was only at the beginning of everything. It seemed to her that she had never known what the night was like before. Up till now it had been dark, silent, beautiful very often — oh, yes — but mournful somehow. Solemn. And now it would never be like that again – it had opened dazzling bright.
This quote exemplifies Leila’s extreme and seemingly exaggerated statements about the ball. Leila believes this night will change her life forever, yet it's clear that the ball is far from life-changing for everyone around her. In this quote, she describes that she was “only at the beginning of everything,” which is a grand statement implying that her life is only starting now at this ball. She also says that “she had never known what the night was like before”: another exaggerated statement. The use of hyperbole here directly emphasizes Leila’s enthusiasm and her illusions of the ball, building it up to create a greater impact on readers after Leila’s conversation with the old man.
