Metaphor for discovering what is really important
Randy uses his illness as a metaphor here and as a device to show how a person can discover what is really important. For him, his cancer is more than just an illness, is a metaphor that suggests his revelation about what is important in life.
Education
Randy’s father was involved in various charitable actions that tried to offer a good education to children from disadvantaged homes or countries. For example, he founded an organization that offered education for girls in a third world country and he hoped that the education they were receiving would keep them from becoming prostitutes. It is clear thus that education is very important and here is also used as a metaphor to suggest better possibilities and a better life.
The lecture and a vehicle
When Randy talks about his lecture, he compares his lecture with a vehicle that will catapult him into the future. Even though he knows that he will die soon because of his illness, Randy knows that if his lecture is successful, he will remain in the minds of those who listened to him for a long period of time and his ideas will continue to live even if he will die.
Engineering problem
When Randy begins his lecture, he first starts by claiming and acknowledging the fact that he does have a health problem. He then goes on to compare his health problem with an ‘’engineering problem’’ to transmit the idea that even though he knows the situation is less than ideal, he understands the problem and is trying to fix it as best as he can.
The last supper
The last lecture is in a way compared to the last supper in the Bible and no one can deny that there are some similarities between the two. The main reason why Randy wanted to hold a last lecture was to pass on some of his knowledge to those listening to him on that day and that was the purpose of the last supper in Bible as well.
