London fields (Metaphor)
The reader can really believe that London Fields is about the nature of London, seeing the title of the book. But it was not to be so. There are no fields with flowers and grass. London fields are just fields of activity and observation, fields of hatred and violence. There are only fields of murder and threats that morally destroy the heroes. These fields make the main characters suffer and start thinking about death.
Black Cross (Metaphor)
One of the main places of the book is the pub “Black Cross”. Here, our four main characters meet each other. The main actions take place in this pub. But it is impossible not to notice the interesting fact that the black cross is connected with four characters. The cross consists of two lines that intersect and create four lines. These four lines metaphorise life of four protagonists – Nicola (“the one, whose destiny is to be killed”), Keith (“the murderer’s dog”), Guy (“the contrast background”) and Sam Young (the narrator). Four lives of the main characters intersect like four lines in the cross. Their lives are dark and gloomy like the black cross.
Like Television (Simile)
After the first meeting of Nicola Six and Keith Talent, Keith finds that the image of Nicola begins to work on his mind. “Her image works like television.” It means that Nicola attracts Keith and he cannot stop to think of her. He thinks of her often and everywhere. Nicola is like an interesting movie, which appeals Keith to enjoy it for hours.
Cruel Treatment (Simile)
When Guy wants to call Nicola, all the telephone boxes are broken. It seems that vandalism spreads everywhere. Sam Young says that “people now treat themselves like telephone boxes, ripping out the innards and throwing them away, plastering them with sex-signs and graffiti”. He means that the human appearance is deceptive and the human soul is actually rotting.
