“His pale eyes stood out like eggs” –pg. 29 (Simile)
Donoghue compares Belle’s father’s eyes to eggs, because they stand out from his head so prominently. This simile reflects his fear after interacting with the Beast, indicating how terrifying she is: his body has a physical reaction to seeing her. This builds anticipation as readers wonder how frightening the beast must be, and builds the opportunity for contrast as readers (and Belle) later realize that she isn’t as terrifying as she is initially made out to be.
The witch in the cave (metaphor)
The witch in The Tale of the Kiss is not actually a witch: she has no magical powers, and most of her actions involve pushing those who approach her towards knowledge that they already had inside of themselves. Her title “witch” is a metaphor for the ways in which she is able to affect people’s actions and life paths, pushing them to eventually realize what is right for them, in a way that is almost supernatural.
The Beast (metaphor)
Belle discovers that the Beast is not actually a beast; instead, she is a woman who disguises herself in a mask and many layers of clothing. She represents women who hide away from the world and ignore society’s expectations – marriage, being ladylike – and how they are often perceived as monsters and outliers by the outside world. Belle explains that the beast took on the label and disguise of “beast” after rejecting her expectations as a woman and queen, deciding that the label is more desirable than the insults she endured by living by her own rules.
The Apple (metaphor)
Snow White’s apple is a metaphor for her stepmother’s wish to mend their relationship. While the apple is initially perceived to be poisonous, much like how Snow White initially thought of her stepmother as dangerous, she realizes that the apple is actually a peace offering. It is significant that the apple is a new one that isn’t quite ripe because the apple represents Snow White’s relationship with her stepmother: new, and fragile, and not quite formed enough to be happy, but with the potential to grow into something stronger and more palatable.
“Work was a rope on a ship in rough water, a candle on a creaking staircase, a potato in a beggar’s embers.” –pg. 125 (metaphor)
The protagonist from The Tale of the Spinster sees work as the one thing that keeps her calm in times of chaos. It keeps her from remembering negative events in the past – being overwhelmed after her mother’s death, etc. – and makes her feel useful, even though her mother constantly berated her. Comparing her work to something steadying is significant because for years, weaving brought her distress and frustration, but with Gretel, she is able to find solace in it.
