Butterfly Wings
At the beginning of the novel, Bob has a confusing series of dreams. Upon awaking, he reports feeling "an almost sexual torture, settled in [his] stomach like butterfly wings" (2). The image draws attention to Bob's conflicting sexual feelings which are present throughout much of the novel. While they are almost like "torture," they are also beautiful and freeing "like butterfly wings."
Like a Dog
When Bob is humiliated by Alice at her friend Stella's party, he notes that he "felt like a dog" (67). This simile draws upon the image of the dog that is presented in the dream that begins the novel. It is suggested that because of his race, Bob is treated like a dog by society and by the people he works with. It is a troubling comparison but one that underpins the major themes of the novel.
A Shadow of Hurt
After fighting with his girlfriend, Alice, Bob comments that there was a look in her eyes "something like a shadow of hurt" (94). It is a beautiful simile and it highlights the distance between Alice and Bob. While Bob tries his best to care for Alice, the difference in their social positions make it almost impossible for them to truly understand one another. It is like Bob can only see Alice's shadow.
A Puppet on a String
After his interaction at the hotel with Madge, Bob expresses the feeling that his resentment towards her "had been controlling [him] like a puppet on a string" (168). This simile highlights the lack of freedom that Bob experiences throughout the novel. Be it racist bosses, Madge, or his own feelings, there is always something controlling him like a puppet.
Like a Hog
After Madge falsely accuses Bob of rape, and he is beaten by his colleagues, he states that he "must have bled like a hog" (185). As with the dog, this is another comparison between Bob and an animal. It suggests that Bob's life is deemed worth that of a hog, and that the violence against him can almost be expected. Through this lens, one can see the horrors of the treatment that Bob continually must face.
