Beans (Metaphor)
When Bolivar serves dinner, Augustus asks him where he finds "these Mexican strawberries," which is a metaphor for beans (Chapter 1). He then proceeds to compare the dish to a "spoonful of red ants" because of the spicy chilies that Bolivar uses (Chapter 1).
Bolivar's Knife (Simile)
Bolivar sharpens his knife every night on the porch. When Newt inquires why Bolivar performs this ritual, the old man compares his knife to a wife, saying "Every night you better stroke it" (Chapter 2). This sexual innuendo goes over Newt's head but prompts laughter and further questions from the other men.
This simile comparing a knife to a wife reveals the ways in which violence pervades the lives of the characters. Not only do they fear it, but they seem to love some part of it the way they would a wife.
The Candle of Knowledge (Metaphor)
When Augustus fixates on creating a sign for the ranch, he writes a Latin phrase that he does not understand in an attempt to appear erudite. However, he broods on the fact that in the years since he attended school, he forgot all of the Greek that he studied. The narrator states that "the candle of knowledge he had set out with had burned down to a sorry stub" (Chapter 8). The candle represents what he learned, but now he feels bitter at having forgotten a great deal.
The Hills (Simile)
When Dish struggles to connect with Lorena, he thinks about how "looking at her...was like looking at the hills. The hills stayed as they were. You could go to them, if you had the means, but they extended no greeting" (Chapter 4). Due to her past trauma, Lorena keeps herself emotionally distant from her clients. No matter how much they desire her, she erects barriers that prevent these men from knowing her true self.
A Dry Shave (Metaphor)
In Chapter 79, Augustus and Call discuss how best to deal with past mistakes and how to treat other people in the present. Augustus advises Call to face his mistakes every day, "that way they ain’t usually much worse than a dry shave.” Here, he compares the pain of dealing with mistakes to shaving. Dry shaves can cause skin irritation and razor burns, but are comparatively minor to other pains and discomforts. In other words, Augustus argues that owning up to one's mistakes on a daily basis are the least painful course of action.
