Water in the Desert (Simile)
"It felt like water in the desert." (291)
Evelyn uses this simile to describe how it feels when she and Max begin to explore a physical relationship together. The simile highlights the pleasure and relief that Evelyn experiences when she finds a new sexual connection with someone she is genuinely attracted to; at this point, Evelyn has been separated from Celia for years, and she has not found anyone else she desires. While her marriage to Harry was loving and supportive, it did not involve physical connection. Because water is an essential element required for almost all organisms to survive, the comparison between water and sexual pleasure highlights how important sex is for many people. The simile is quite bold, because Evelyn challenges the stereotype that women, and especially older women, might not be very invested in sexual pleasure. The simile also highlights the intensity of the pleasure Evelyn can take in being with a man, which is important to show that she truly experiences desire and pleasure for both men and women.
Waking Up Out of a Fog (Metaphor)
Sometimes it's just two people waking up out of a fog. (285)
This quotation occurs as Monique reflects on how her perspective on her marriage, and on relationships in general, has changed. She has always assumed divorce involved great emotional pain, and in a sense, she has been creating her own suffering due to that belief. Monique's metaphor highlights how her relationship involved confusion and losing sight of her own values and identity when she compares it to a foggy state, where it is hard to see clearly. By comparing the end of a relationship to an awakening, Monique reframes a divorce or breakup from something negative into something positive. Waking up generally implies a new start, and possibly stepping out of something that was not real, such as a dream or illusion. Rather than believing that the marriage was the positive state, and the divorce was a loss or failure, this metaphor suggests that the marriage may have been a negative experience, and ending it was a positive thing.
Rare Steak in Front of a Tiger (Simile)
I felt like a rare steak in front of a tiger. (228)
Evelyn uses this simile to describe the experience of seeing Celia look at her with desire. The simile develops the novel's theme of exploring female and queer sexuality; while Evelyn and Celia have a strong emotional connection, they also have powerful and intense chemistry. By comparing Celia to a tiger, Evelyn hints at how Celia can be assertive and animalistic in her desire to possess Evelyn. The simile also explores the complex dynamics of vulnerability and power in intimate relationships; the simile implies passivity and even vulnerability on Evelyn's part, as she compares herself to something inanimate that exists to be consumed. Yet, she uses this simile to convey the pleasure she takes in knowing that she can ignite Celia's desire. Because of the foundation of intimacy and trust between the two of them, Evelyn can feel at ease with Celia's desire, rather than violated or exploited by it.
Threaded the Needle (Metaphor)
...to imply that she has not adequately threaded the needle that is being sexually satisfying without ever appearing to desire sexual satisfaction. (119)
Evelyn speaks this quotation to describe an idea she considers when she first realizes how talented Celia is, and contemplates trying to ruin her reputation (at this time, Evelyn and Celia are working together, and have just begun their friendship). Evelyn knows that if she planted a rumor about Celia's personal life, she could potentially damage Celia's career. To describe the fragile balance a woman must appear to maintain, Evelyn uses the metaphor of threading a needle; just as a piece of thread must be slid through a very tiny hole, there is a very limited window of opportunity in which a woman can be adequately alluring without being accused of promiscuity. The metaphor highlights that this work of maintaining the perfect reputation is a form of labor; the idea of threading a needle alludes to sewing and other forms of needlework, which were often types of work primarily practiced by women. Sewing and threading needles are also learned skills, often taught and passed down between generations of women, and these expectations of performing and maintaining reputation are often likewise passed down as something a woman is expected to learn to do.
Climbed to the Very Top of the Mountain (Metaphor)
We had climbed to the very top of the mountain, and that night we stuck our flags into the summit. (278)
Evelyn uses this metaphor to describe her feelings when she finally wins an Oscar; that same night, Harry and Max also win Oscars for their contributions to the same film. The metaphor captures Evelyn's feeling of success and triumph; while she was able to achieve celebrity and commercial success, it took a long time for her to be credited as a "serious" actress. The metaphor of climbing a mountain captures the sacrifice and hardship involved in achieving that level of success; Evelyn makes it clear that her success came with a price, but she felt pride and triumph when she was rewarded for that sacrifice.
