Metaphor for Cabinets
George hypothesizes that "maybe we are all cabinets of wonder." This acts as a metaphor for how nuanced people are, and how they contain layers and facets that aren't visible to all people. They are cabinets of wonder because as people get to know each other more, those "wondrous" layers are revealed.
Metaphor for machines
“I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too."
The characters in this book are all transfixed with machinery, especially detailed machines that resemble magical creations. For characters like Hugo and Isabelle, who are orphans, the world can feel isolating and like it doesn't have a place for either of them. However, trying to understand the world like a machine, something both of them love and know well, can make them feel like there is a place for them in the world, which makes it feel less isolating.
Simile of a Mermaid
“Like a mermaid rising from an ocean of paper, the girl emerged across the room.”
Isabelle is compared to a mermaid to show her gracefulness. She might be a human, but she is so elegant and graceful that she can slide across the room like a magical creature.
Metaphor of Prometheus
Georges references the Prometheus myth to discuss how Prometheus was eventually freed of his punishment. This is a metaphor for Hugo, where he is eventually freed from his life of poverty and sadness and given a happy ending.
Simile of Children
"Children transform, like butterflies, into adults." Selznik compares children to butterflies, not because they are like bugs, but because, like butterflies, they grow up very quickly and transform almost overnight.
