A Mad World, My Masters Metaphors and Similes

A Mad World, My Masters Metaphors and Similes

The Metaphor of Spider

The spider is used metaphorically to mean those glittering things can turn out to be traps. A spider can weave a smart trap to attract a fly. Unknowingly, a fly is attracted to the beautiful weave not knowing that is the end of its life. She says:

“The very spider weaves her cauls with more art cunning to entrap a fly”

In the play, the mother tells her daughter that the world can seem more subtle but dangerous. Similar to human beings, the mother warns the daughter to be cautious when choosing the person to associate with.

The simile of Hero and Leander

In the play, the author compares the character 'Courtesan' to a Hero and Lender, Venus and Adonis. Through this comparison, the reader can conceptualize how the lady looks in the physical world. He says:

“Do, labour her prithee; I have conveyed away all her wanton pamphlets, as Hero and Lender, Venus and Adonis; oh’ two luscious marybone pies for a young married wife”

The simile of the wholesome sister

In the play, the author compares the character 'Courtesan' to a good wholesome sister of the family. He says:

“How earnestly she labours her, like a good wholesome sister of the family”

This simile is a joke to feminism despite using a soft language. There is no single laboring woman who finds it enjoyable. However, Harebrain sugarcoats his talking not to raise unnecessary alarm.

Simile of the ‘Name’

The author compares the character 'Sir Bounteous' to his name. However, jokingly, a comparison is made to help the reader understand how funny Sir Bounteous can be. In response, Bounteous admits that he is humorous.

“You have been too much like your name, sir Bounteous”

The simile of one keeper

The character 'Courtesan' compares a park to a woman in response to her mother’s question regarding the token from her keeper. She says:

"And in common reason, one keeper cannot be enough for so proud a park as a woman".

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