Jewel Studded Icon (metaphor)
Lee writes, “The Danube had been like a mirage for hours before Budapest rose like a jewel-studded icon across the water.” Though this is also used as a simile, it operates metaphorically as well. The city is not a "jewel-studded icon" but the comparison implies a vision of immense beauty and value amid the harshness of reality. The metaphor elevates Budapest as a symbol of both what has been lost (culturally and architecturally) and what still shines through. It offers hope or a momentary reprieve from the darkness of war. Her sight of Budapest is tinged with a bittersweet beauty as a beacon in her arduous journey.
Citadel Artillery (metaphor)
The narrator says, "The picturesque town of Saint Malo…turned to rubble by the fire from the citadel guns." In that, the town of Saint-Malo is metaphorically "turned to rubble," which represents the destruction caused by war. This metaphor does not just describe the physical dismantling of buildings because it conveys the erasure of beauty, history, and peace. It has transformed the peaceful town into a landscape of chaos and death. The vivid image of rubble symbolizes the totality of war's devastation.
Loss of a Pet (metaphor)
Lee narrates, “My tears were the accumulation of weeks of frustration bursting on the doorstep of my objective as well as the loss of my pet.” This metaphor compares her tears to an "accumulation" like a buildup of pressure over time, which finally "bursts" now of emotional release. As such, it powerfully encapsulates the complex mix of exhaustion, relief, and grief that overwhelms Lee. It also emphasizes that her breakdown is about more than just her pet’s death—it represents weeks of emotional and physical strain.
Pretend Warrior (simile)
The following simile describes Varum, Lee’s pet: “He was lying on the pavement, quite dead – all fluffed out and arched like when he was pretending to be a warrior.” This comparison draws out the tragic irony of showing Varum’s spirit in play mimicking that of a brave warrior. However, it also underlines the futility of death. It adds tenderness to the moment of loss by deepening the emotional impact.
Mount Vesuvius (simile)
This simile compares the bombing to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius: "The boy at the phone said, ‘they hear airplanes’…they were bringing their bombs…like Vesuvius." It symbolizes an immense and explosive power. The eruption metaphor underlines the scale of destruction brought by the bombs. Just as Vesuvius's eruption reshaped landscapes, the bombs reshaped the battlefield by turning structures into smoke and debris.
