Deep Diving (metaphor)
The decision to reveal one's sexuality is not easy, therefore, Sylvie's journey to coming out is compared to diving underwater. In anticipation, Slyvia feels a sense of fear and uncertainty as she prepares to share her secret with her sisters. By describing her experience as a dive, she shows that it is a difficult and intimidating task requiring bravery and courage. The metaphor also denotes the possibility of a new path or perspective that could be discovered once she takes the plunge. This could be symbolic of the new life she will have when her sisters accept her for who she is. Thus, the metaphor highlights the gravity and importance of the moment for Sylvie.
Whirlwind (metaphor)
The author uses the metaphor of a whirlwind to describe the chaotic events of William's life. He is caught up in a whirlwind of emotions, relationships, and new experiences, and he is struggling to find his footing. The metaphor illustrates that external forces are tossing around William beyond his control, and he has to adjust and adapt quickly to his ever-changing circumstances. Thereby, this whirlwind is what brings William back to the city of his past and to the people he loves allowing him to rebuild his life in a new way. Although William has been through a lot of turmoil, he will eventually find a way to make something good out of his experience.
Glacier (simile)
"William's parents' grief had shaped him, like a glacier moving silently through a valley." The narrator divulges that the parents' grief had an immense impact on William's life. In that, the effects of it were slow and vast, like a glacier that moves silently and without disruption through a valley, reshaping the landscape. The fact that the glacier is moving "silently" implies that grief has been subtle and unspoken. The representation is developed by comparing William's decision to leave his old life to a decision his ex-wife would make. Hence, further accentuates how the effects of it still linger, even after he makes a bold decision to start a new life.
Waves (simile)
Mrs.Salisbury's hair is like "waves that would never crash; you could see through the center of them, and they didn’t move." This simile is used to describe the teacher's hair and to create a contrast between her and Alice's mother, Julia. Though the image of waves denotes softness, the fact that they never crash demonstrates that Mrs. Salisbury's hair is unchanging and unmoving. This comparison underscores the contrast between the two adults, with Julia in her business suit and high heels looking out of place in the classroom, and Mrs. Salisbury with her immovable head of curls. It represents differences and how they are unlikely to see eye-to-eye in Alice's presentation.
Same Person (metaphor)
The narrator describes the way Julia and her sisters appear in the old photographs. She says, "The sisters looked deeply similar, like they were four different versions of the same person." This metaphor compares Julia and her sisters to four different variations of a single person, proposing that they are so close and so alike that they appear to be one being. The unity and closeness between the sisters allow their connection to be strong that it is almost tangible. Furthermore, the metaphor hints at the idea that Julia and her sisters share a unique bond that transcends their physical differences.
