Embalmed Cafe
The narrator uses the imagery of "embalmed, as if submerged in amber" to compare the atmosphere of the café to a preserved state. This description is used to stress the stillness of the café as if the patrons were stuck in time. The plastic sheeting of the café and the fluorescent lighting gives the impression that the patrons are trapped in a kind of stasis, and the cigarette smoke further adds to this feeling of suspended animation. The imagery also hints at a sense of being trapped, as amber is a type of fossilized resin, which is known for trapping insects and other small creatures inside it. Thus, it demonstrates that the patrons are in a kind of prison, unable to escape their current state.
Cross-Dressing Villager
There is strong imagery of a cross-dressing villager "sitting leg over leg on a wooden chair underneath the plane tree, with a cigarette that glowed into sudden life." The excerpt paints a vivid picture of the villager, a figure that stands out in the rustic vista of the village. The phrase "leg over leg" is particularly suggestive of someone who is casually lounging and relaxed, with their legs crossed. The cigarette glowing to life adds to the imagery, accentuating the figure's connection to the scene around them, and their presence in the village. The use of the word "antique" further highlights the quaint, rustic nature of the village and the contrast between this figure and the rest of the village. This imagery shows that this community is a unique and diverse place, with a variety of people and cultures, even within the small village.
The Father
The narrator describes the father as a hunter with a shotgun, wearing aviator glasses and a vest with four deep pockets. He is also described as having oiled hair, which is darker than the gun, and the metal temples of his glasses. This description paints a strong image of the father and his love for hunting and the reverence with which the narrator and her brother treat him. The father is placed at the center of the image, emphasizing his importance to the family. The details of the vest and the glasses, as well as the oiled hair, provide a realistic, almost tactile image of the father as a hunter. This imagery shows the respect and admiration for their father, and the importance hunting held in their lives.
Plight
The imagery of "livestock blocking traffic, oblivious goats strolling this way and that, drivers cursing and yelling at shepherds, the smell of dust and milk, the smell of cordite, sheep lying dead and bloated on wounded fields that had turned into battlefields" displays a chaotic picture of the Syrian women's journey to safety. This description evokes a sense of confusion and despair at the precariousness of their situation. The juxtaposition of the serene, almost peaceful image of the livestock blocking the traffic, with the harsher and more violent images of the explosions, bombings, and dead sheep, emphasizes the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the war they are fleeing from. It captures the desperate plight of Syrian women and their children as they struggle to escape the dangers of their homeland.
