“Shining Hope”
Amelia states, “We were a known family—respected, honoured—and Irwin was our shining hope. I was the only girl, and Irwin made me feel special, like I was his hero.” Irwin is an influential member of his household. His position cannot be filled straightforwardly. He is a superlative model for his siblings and the all-inclusive family.
‘An Otter’
Amelia recounts, “But Irwin swam like an otter. Like he loved it. Like the water was a second skin. No one ever beat my brother in a race, though there were many who tried. Even grown men—bigger, stronger kickers—would never see anything but the flashing bottoms of my brother’s feet. He was a legend.” Likening Irwin to an otter accentuates his unmatchable swimming capabilities. It would be impossible to beat a swimmer whose talent matches that of an innate swimmer which the otter embodies.
‘A Little Bird’
Amelia states, “Quiet, gentle, and thinner even than me, we always treated Harley like a little bird out of its nest, sheltering him, protecting him, warming him. In the tribal way, change is a constant and our ways teach you how to deal with it.” The allegorical ‘little bird’ portrays Harley’s defenselessness which stimulates all his family members counting Amelia (who is younger than him) to endeavor to shield him.
