Human Bird (simile)
The narrator describes an old man as "frail and light, like a hollow-boned human bird." This simile compares the old man to a bird, noting his physical frailty and lightness. By saying he is "hollow-boned," the author implies that the old man is weak like a bird. This simile helps to create a vivid image of the old man in the reader's mind, emphasizing his physical frailty and making him seem almost ethereal. The comparison to a bird also suggests his mortality, as birds are known to represent freedom and the freedom to fly away. This adds a deeper layer of meaning to the simile, as it is suggesting that the old man's mortality will soon take him away.
Ripples (simile)
The narrator asserts, "The expression on his mother’s face ripples like the surface of a pond." This is a vivid description of the mother's expression which conveys the subtle emotions which are being felt. It suggests that her expression is changing in a very subtle way, like the rippling of a pond when a stone is thrown into it. This subtle movement expresses a feeling of emotion that is difficult to put into words, suggesting a combination of sadness and worry on the mother's face. It also reflects the idea that the mother's emotions are not easily readable, as the ripples on the surface of a pond can be difficult to interpret.
Money (metaphor)
Dagou asserts, "Time is money. Place is money. Love, love is money. And power is money. You'll see." This metaphor is used to explain the family's obsession with geography and the idea that they are all trying to travel back in time, but are unable to do so, so they seek out a new place instead. He states that they have replaced time and place with money and that they have come to see love, power, and even themselves as monetary entities. This metaphor is used to highlight the family's focus on material success and their tendency to view the world through a capitalist lens. By using this metaphor, Dagou is suggesting that the family has become so consumed by their obsession with money and power that they have forgotten the importance of other things in life, such as love and relationships.
Private Painting (metaphor)
The metaphor used to compare Alice's drawing is a "world belonging to Alice, utterly private, but designed and arranged according to a pattern curiously personal to himself" which James is given a glimpse into. It serves to illustrate the intricate, private inner life of Alice which James is now being allowed to experience. It also emphasizes the personal nature of the drawing and the relationship between Alice and James that it reveals. The metaphor of the drawing as a world also speaks to Alice's skill and creativity in her artwork, as it is so detailed and complex that it almost appears to be a fully realized world. Additionally, the metaphor of the drawing as a world helps to emphasize the importance of the drawing to Alice and the significance it has for James.
Puffball (simile)
Another simile used in the narration is "black hair sticking out like a puffball." This is comparing the narrator's hair to a puffball, which is a type of mushroom that is round and fluffy. The narrator's hair is being compared to this because it has been cut at a low setting, so it is standing up in all directions, making it look like a puffball. This simile is used to emphasize how uneven and unkempt the narrator's hair is, and it also serves to bring a humorous element to the description.
