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Irony
Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
21. Darl
Explanation and Analysis—The Mother Metaphor:
Darl uses a metaphor in Chapter 21 to express his understanding of the significance of a mother in a child’s life, explaining, “I cannot love my mother because I have no mother. Jewel’s mother is a horse.” Though he and Jewel have the same biological mother, this is not entirely what he refers to here.
To Darl, it seems that a mother is something a person draws life, energy, and inspiration from, as Jewel does with his horse. Addie did apparently represent that for Darl, but given that she is dead, she can no longer perform this function. This is Darl’s way of explaining how truly alone he feels in the wake of Addie’s death. He is distressed not only because his mother is dead but because he must persist without her life force and support.
Darl's decision to express this feeling with a figurative rather than literal language reflects how he believes himself to be unequipped to deal with these feelings. Even his language is an attempt to distance himself from the sadness of Addie's death. Talking directly about his emotions—his love for Addie, his resentment for Jewel, or even his grief over the whole situation—is completely off the table for Darl.
Related Themes:
