The seven years’ difference in our ages lay between us like a chasm: I wondered if these years would ever operate between us as a bridge.

Question

— James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues”
How would the meaning and impact of the sentence change if the sentence read as follows:

The seven years’ difference in our ages lay between us like a chasm, and I wondered if these years would ever operate between us as a bridge.

Your answer:

Answer 1

The shift from a colon to "and" in the sentence alters its pacing and the connection between the two clauses, impacting the overall meaning and emotional weight.

With the use of the colon in the original sentence, the first part creates a strong, evocative image of a chasm representing a significant divide between the two characters due to their age difference. The colon serves to emphasize the contrast between this chasm and the potential for those years to act as a bridge, suggesting that the narrator is grappling with a profound sense of separation and longing for connection.

In contrast, using "and" creates a more straightforward continuation of thought, which could lessen the intensity of the imagery. The relationship between the chasm and the possibility of a bridge becomes less striking. The focus shifts slightly from a contemplative pause to a more direct assertion of thought, making it feel more like a casual observation rather than a moment of deep reflection.

Overall, while both versions convey a similar idea about the age gap's impact on their relationship, the original sentence with the colon carries a greater sense of existential depth and tension, while the revision with "and" feels more conversational and less poignant.