Louisa as an Artist (Metaphor)
Louisa's dedication to her domestic realm is compared to an artist's dedication to her craft. This metaphor emphasizes the extent to which Louisa aspires to perfection in her home, along with the level of satisfaction she derives from her work.
Caesar as a Hermit (Metaphor)
The narrator compares Caesar to a hermit in order to emphasize the utter solitude of his life. Although Louisa is never described as such, the parallel drawn between her and Caesar suggests that Louisa, too, is as alone as a hermit by the end of the text.
Joe as a Bear (Simile)
When Joe comes to visit Louisa one evening, he is awkward and uncomfortable, making a mess in her otherwise perfect and orderly home. His masculinity is so out of place among all this delicate domesticity that he is compared to an "innocent and perfectly well-intentioned bear... [exiting] from a china shop."
Louisa as a Queen (Simile)
When Louisa calls off her engagement with Joe, she once again becomes the ruler of her own life and home. The next day, she feels like a "queen," the ultimate signal of power and wealth.
Leaves like Silver (Simile)
Freeman uses vivid imagery and similes to describe the nature around Louisa's home. Leaves, for example, "twinkled like silver" in the full moon, a dramatic and lovely image that sets the stage for the climactic conversation Louisa overhears.
