Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to something nonhuman. It can represent abstract qualities, such as envy or love, as having distinct and personal natures. Animals and inanimate objects can also be personified, such as when authors grant them the power of speech.

In “De Profundis,” Wilde uses personification to both highlight and explain human characteristics. He specifically utilizes this literary device when writing about emotions, such as love, hate, vanity, sorrow, and humility. Throughout the letter, Wilde capitalizes these traits, turning them into proper nouns. He considers these emotions to be faculties that depend upon certain nourishment to survive—for example, he speaks of hate growing fat off of decadent cuisine. Another example is when he depicts sorrow as an empty wound that bleeds, only to be soothed by love’s touch. Wilde also personifies society, having it speak to him in the letter. Wilde’s use of personification gives the letter the lively and fairytale-like quality that defines much of his work.

An allusion is an indirect reference to something that adds detail and depth to a work. Allusion furthers character development and plot through association with other works and ideas.

Wilde alludes to many different works and ideas throughout the letter.