Metaphor for peace
In the second chapter, Joe describes the time when their superintended held a speech about Lincoln Beechy and how for many, the plane became a metaphor for peace after his speech. But Joe presents another side of the coin when he reveals that instead of being a metaphor for peace, the plane became synonym with death and destruction for him.
Infant state
In chapter seven, Joe wakes up and realizes that his wounds have healed. He is still unable to see, hear or move and he associates his state to that of a baby in his mother’s womb. By associating his situation with that of an unborn baby, Joe accentuates the idea that he is unable to do anything and isolated from the outside world.
Prisoner
Joe compares his situation with the condition of a prisoner in ancient times. Joe feels like a slave on a ship, unable to do anything to change his condition. But even so, Joe believes that some slaves had a better life than he has because at least they were able to die and escape their physical prison.
Soldiers as slaves
Joe compares himself and other prisoners to slaves in a game controlled by people not taking part in it. In his mind, he compares himself and other soldiers with the slaves assigned to fight one another in the Coliseum in ancient times. In Joe’s mind, every soldier is thus sent to fight a pointless battle that benefits a third party.
Caring
In chapter seventeen, a new nurse is assign to take care of Joe. Unlike the other nurses, she tries to make contact with Joe and touches him as a way to communicate with him. On Christmas, she writes Merry Christmas on his chest and this represents the first time someone tried to communicate with Joe in many years. Because of this, Joe associates the nurse with the image of Jesus’s mother, who takes her baby and holds him near her. This association and the fact that Joe compares the nurse with Jesus’s mother points towards the fact that Joe doesn’t feel alone anymore, but rather he feels safe and assured that someone finally thinks that he is human and capable enough to communicate.
