Ignorance
The narrator goes off on a tangent at one point about how ignorance is an unhappy heritage of every occupation. Then he gets really metaphorical:
“To remove one small section of inborn ignorance is a life-work for any man.”
Stealing
Stealing is a mighty sin and capable of bringing upon the thief a burdensome scourge from the fates. Within reason, of course.
“stealing—well, anything except grass or water—brings as heavy a curse as anything you can do”
Poet of Science
The narrator is given to fantastic flights of metaphorical imagery; he is truly a poet of nature. Consider this description of time, astronomy and geography:
“…time, according to its deplorable habit, had been passing, and the glitter had died off the plain as the sun went on its way to make a futile attempt at purifying the microbe-laden atmosphere of Europe.”
Say What, Now?
Some writers just have a talent for putting things into the form of metaphor. Even if by doing so they create unnecessary confusion. Fun to read, but difficult to interpret:
“But the seduction of a direct action, single-cylinder purpose is a contract not to be taken by any of your mushroom mental firms; and this was a large order. Of course, the diplomatic flunkey-touch of nature has served as a letter of introduction to the man; now I would follow up the national phase of this delicate point of contact.”
Shakespeare
The novel draws to a close with by withholding its greatest metaphorical feat until the end; a creative reinvention of Shakespeare via Aussie slang:
“Such is life, my fellow mummers—just like a poor player, that bluffs and feints his hour upon the stage, and then cheapens down to mere nonentity. But let me not hear any small witticism to the further effect that its story is a tale told by a vulgarian, full of slang and blanky, signifying—nothing.”
