The King Approacheth
This entire story revolves around the consequences of investing unlimited authority within a system already subject to deranged narcissist. By decree of the king, everyone is required remove their hat whenever the king passes by. The arrival of the conveyance of the king includes a metaphor indicative of this insanity:
“On came the King’s carriage—white and gold purple. It rumbled like thunder through the narrow street.”
The Yeoman of the Bowmen
Bartholomew is in quite the pickle. He tries to follow the rule, but every time he removes his hat from his head, another mysteriously and magically appears. Much of the bulk of the action details efforts to stop this madness by successfully removing the hat from his head and once for. When other attempts fail, the mightiest archer in the land is called upon. He is truly mighty:
“A gigantic made strode out across the terrace. His bow was as big as the branch of a tree. The arrow was twice as long as Bartholomew and thicker than his wrist.”
The Bow Release, The Arrow in Flight
Metaphorical imagery is used to describe not just the Yeoman of the Bowman, but the effects of pulling back his bow and releasing the arrow into flight directly toward Bartholomew’s head:
“G–r–r–zibb!...Like a mad giant hornet the arrow tore through the air toward Bartholomew Cubbins."
The Arrow Hits it Mark
Like William Tell, the Yeoman of the Bowman’s aim is true. The arrow soars right into the hat on Bartholomew’s head and whisks it clean off, not coming to a landing for another half-mile. Immediately, however, another hat suddenly appears on the boy’s head:
“The face of the Yeoman of the Bowmen went white as the palace walls.”
It’s Magic…Black Magic
The Yeoman declares that what is going on here can only be the result of black magic when his powerfully wrought and truly aimed arrow fails to solve the problem. King Derwin quickly seizes upon this idea and, as these go, soon enough the entire court is in agreement. The king summons for his magicians and it is immediately suggested through the power of metaphorical language that this is not exactly a common circumstance in the kingdom:
“In the whole Throne Room there wasn’t a sound as loud as a breath.”
