Bears and Bulls (Simile)
When Truewit goes to visit Mr. Otter, Mistress Otter compares him to a bear and a bull that stink in her house and make it uninhabitable. Mistress Otter uses her husband's own past-time (bear fighting) against him in order to insult Truewit, considering him a bad influence on her husband and imagining that he brings with him a figurative "stench" to their otherwise dignified household.
Sad as a Dog (Simile)
At the end of Act II, Scene 2, Daw is disappointed that Epicene does not appear particularly interested in his advances. He admits to Truewit and Clerimont that he will be melancholy as a dog, and they correct him by offering snails and lice for comparison instead. The simile is originally an expression of Daw's sadness over Epicene's rejection, but it eventually becomes an insult lodged at Daw by Truewit and Clerimont, who take him to be as insignificant as common bugs. Daw, of course, does not register the insult whatsoever.
Fortunes in the Stars (Simile)
Dauphine is dismayed to hear that Truewit attempted to convince Morose not to marry, but Truewit defends himself by saying he foresaw Morose's misery as one sees the stars in the sky. This simile, which suggests that Truewit's intentions were pure, also helps further obfuscate whether Truewit is genuinely wise or simply a lucky fool. Ultimately, Truewit's attempt to turn Morose off of marriage backfires, and Dauphine's original scheme is restored.
Free Hair (Metaphor)
When the male characters talk about Lady Haughty, they mention her free (or untied) hair and how that aspect of her character was somehow even more outrageous than adultery. The untied hair here works as a metaphor for female independence, sought by the women of the Ladies Collegiates. That the men are appalled by the notion of a woman with untied hair suggests that they are, in actuality, fearful of the concept of women's liberation.
Silence (Metaphor)
Silence works as an overarching metaphor for social disturbance throughout the play. Morose, of course, detests noise of any kind, signifying his selfish desire to remain apart from the rest of the world, despite the fact that he lives in London. That silence is considered a virtuous characteristic for his own wife emphasizes the play's investment in lambasting foolish men, or those who would be afraid of relinquishing any of their perceived power to an educated and opinionated woman.
