Machine
The simile of hell has been used for Machine. When Blake was moving to the west, a coal shoveler draws this comparison and tells him about the ruthless environment in Machine. After his arrival in the town, he realizes that it was really demonstrating a picture of hell. The bones were hanging on the walls and there were dead bodies on the shops. The hunters were carrying guns and the animals were being killed for seeking pleasure out of killing. The coal shoveler was covered with dirt and his appearance was just like a demon. Blake experiences the scathing heat of hell in Machine and it actually proves out to be hell for him. He runs away from this hell to save his life.
Liminal Space
The man who was named as Nobody was not accepted by the people of his tribe so he lives in a liminal space regarding his identity. He was living without his family as a native American. The simile of liminal space has also been employed for William Blake when he was shot. He was neither alive nor death after getting shot by the second time. Nobody says that he was living in liminal space because of his condition.
Nobody
The metaphor of Nobody has been used for a spirituality enlightened man who saved Blake's life again and again. In the movie, his name has been mentioned as Nobody but he was actually Somebody, who was the most important part of the story. Nobody embraces death for saving Blake'life. He fights with the contract killer and shoots him but he doesn't allow him to reach Blake. Nobody gives a way to Blake's life and embarks him on a spiritual journey. He keeps him along with him and shows him the various stages in life.
Dead Man
The title is a metaphor for Blake, which alludes towards William Blake, who was a poet and shared a name with the protagonist of the movie. Blake came to Machine for a better job but he ends up ruining his life there by killing a man. Blake was shot by a bullet and when he is looked after by Nobody, he was somehow a deadman. He neither questions about anything nor demonstrates his opinion. Instead, he goes along with Nobody. He was moving like a carcass and at the end of the movie, he actually becomes a dead man.
