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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
Part Four
Explanation and Analysis—Wild Animal:
In Klara and the Sun, colloquial vocabulary is an unlikely source of metaphor. Klara carefully catalogues the instances of figurative language around her, showing the ways in which everyday dialogue can draw unexpected comparisons. During her visit to Mr. Capaldi’s, the AF notices the first time the Mother calls her “honey.” When the Father reunites with Josie, he addresses her in his dotingly paternal way:
Hey, Josie! My favorite wild animal!
This reliance on parental language—and the subsequent comparisons between children and “honey” or “wild animals”—potentially betrays a deeper fear about progress. These are the colloquial mainstays of American life, reinforcing the bonds between parent and child. In this futuristic context, however, they double as safeguards against the increasing intrusions of technology. Faced with the dehumanizing forces of automation, these instances of metaphor seem to stave them off through its references to natural, organic objects. “Wild” animals don’t permit the mechanical qualities of technology; by defining this “animal” character against the robot, the Father creates a distinction between the manmade and the human. The emphasis on Josie’s animality is an expression of love that also affirms her humanity. Through these endearing references, the novel almost suggests that words offer the only defense against impersonal technological advancement. In its world of cutthroat efficiency and progress, it is as though the Father and the Mother must take refuge in language instead.
Related Themes:
