Fish Eyes (Simile)
While rehearsing for a play taking place in town, Shawn meets a girl named Sadie. When Tara asks Shawn if he likes Sadie romantically, he explains that she has eyes "like a fish." This backhanded compliment is the first hint of Shawn's abusive and controlling behavior with women. Initially, the compliment causes Sadie to feel special—she loves the attention. Beneath the surface, however, Shawn is actually degrading and insulting Sadie. This sadistic behavior foreshadows how Shawn will treat Tara, and, later, his wife Emily.
A Wolf Among Sheep (Metaphor)
One evening, Tara finds Shawn laying down on the side of the road. He is injured, and his head is bloody. Terrified, Tara calls 911 and has Shawn taken to an emergency room in a nearby town. Gene is furious that Tara has gone against his wishes to receive institutionalized medical care, and Tara is chastised for her decision. As she sits across the table from her father, Tara believes that she is not a good daughter, but rather "a traitor, a wolf among sheep." This metaphor reflects Tara's realization that she is different from her family. However, Tara is also very harsh with herself. Tara's deprecating internal dialogue about her morality reflect her waning self-confidence.
Corps de Ballet (Metaphor)
At the very beginning of Educated, Tara is depicted standing atop a railway car and gazing out at the hills that surround Buck's Peak. She watches as the hills, paved with wild wheat, move melodically in the wind. She compares the wheat field to a "corps de ballet, each stem following all the rest in bursts of movement, a million ballerinas bending, one after the other." This metaphor demonstrates the romanticized, idealized view of home that stands in stark contrast to the reality of daily life at Buck's Peak. In addition, the metaphor articulates Tara's attraction to music and reflects the theme of art as escapism.
Slow as Molasses (Simile)
When Tara works in the junkyard, Gene jokes that she is "slow as molasses running uphill." Tara's lack of speed demonstrates her caution. Throughout the memoir, the junkyard represents danger and injury. Although Tara must contribute to her family's business, she is aware of the consequences of the scrapyard and behaves accordingly.
The Icy Land (Metaphor)
Tara recalls one of the first times she went to work with her father in the scrapyard. As she stepped onto the property, she recalls that "the earth was ice" and the "air felt stiff." This metaphor is also an example of pathetic fallacy. Tara is terrified about working with her father's crew, and the abrasive weather reflects her peril.
