"Her red hair was spiky like some new species of cactus" (simile, pg. 50)
When Rosie meets Don for their first dinner, he compares her hair to a cactus. This simile is interesting because it communicates Don's attraction to Rosie in an unconventional way. Since Don is usually not very observant or interested in physical characteristics, the fact that he is struck by Rosie's hair at all indicates that he has an unusual degree of interest in her. Because Don is a scientist, he is interested in precise description, and the idea of a new species would be interesting to him. By comparing Rosie's hair not just to a cactus, but to a new species, the simile implies how Rosie represents a new possibility in Don's life. He has never met a woman like her before, and this means that they can have a new sort of relationship.
"Bianca offered no such cooperation and the result was as if I had attacked her" (simile, pg. 162)
Don uses this simile to illustrate the awkward and ungainly effect of his attempt to dance with Bianca. The simile of comparing dancing to an attack creates strong imagery, making it easy for the reader to picture what was happening and to be amused by the comical scene. The simile also juxtaposes how dancing would typically appear (graceful, fluid, and seamless) with how an attack would appear, signaling an antagonistic relationship between two people who should be working as partners. The simile is especially powerful because it shows that Bianca and Don do not work well as a team: they are out of sync and create discord between each other. In contrast, whenever Rosie and Don do something together, whether dancing or mixing drinks, they find a fluid and natural rhythm, signaling that they will make good partners.
"Rosie continued her exploration, like an animal in a new environment" (simile, pg. 56)
Don uses this simile to describe Rosie's behavior the first time that she visits his apartment. The simile reflects Don's approach of detached, objective scientific observation. At the same time, Don refers to Rosie in a dehumanizing way by explicitly comparing her to an animal. At this point, someone like Rosie is so strange to Don that she almost seems to be a different species. However, the simile is also telling because it reveals Don's bias: he seems to think that Rosie will feel out of sorts in her new setting, but that might be because Don finds it very difficult to adapt to new circumstances. Rosie might actually be far more comfortable than Don assumes she is.
"You're a star" (metaphor, pg. 65)
Rosie makes this comment to Don after he confirms that testicle size has nothing to do with monogamous behavior. She is pleased because this information confirms her initial guess and will allow her to win a bet against Gene (although Don does not know that the bet exists). The metaphor compares Don to a star as a way for Rosie to casually express her satisfaction and appreciation. The comment is also playful. It shows that Rosie is at ease with both social interactions and using language in figurative ways, both of which Don finds challenging.
"Besides not wanting to marry a parakeet" (metaphor, pg. 165)
Rosie uses this metaphor to sarcastically refer to Bianca after Don and Rosie leave the Faculty Ball together. Rosie compares Bianca to a parakeet because Bianca wore a very colorful and flashy dress to the ball. Rosie clearly dislikes and feels jealous of Bianca because she herself is interested in Don, even though she has not yet admitted this. She uses the metaphor to refer to Bianca in a way that is both derogatory and comical. The metaphor suggests that Bianca is superficial and not very intelligent; part of Rosie's distaste for her comes from her sense of being protective of Don and knowing that Bianca could not see Don's potential. Rosie's metaphor is mostly harmless, but it shows her affection for Don, her capacity for jealousy, and her willingness to be somewhat petty towards another woman whom she views as a rival.
