Layers of Meaning in Abe Akira's Metaphors and Similes
Abe Akira uses metaphors and similes not merely as decorative language but as instruments to explore memory, identity, and perception. Each figurative expression is carefully crafted to illuminate the narrator's inner world, the fragility of memory, and the tension between reality and imagination.
Flickering Memories
"The image in my mind is always the same – if not so fixed as a painting, then perhaps more like some frames of underexposed film flickering on the screen" (Peaches, p. 1).
In this simile, the narrator highlights the fleeting, unstable nature of memory. Unlike a painting, which is fixed and permanent, memory appears in fragmented flashes, subjective and incomplete. This metaphor emphasizes how recollection is influenced by perception, emotion, and time.
Tenderness of Peaches
"And like the downy skin of a newborn, each could be scuffed and bruised in an instant if my mother did not push the pram slowly and carefully" (Peaches, p. 2).
Here, the author compares the peaches to a newborn's delicate skin, underscoring their fragility. This simile also reflects the larger theme of fidelity and purity, suggesting that certain values must be carefully preserved, much like the peaches in the pram.
The Bridge Tree
The narrator recalls a relative who drowned herself after a false accusation. "The tree looked just like a bridge" (Peaches, p. 5).
This simile turns the plum tree into a symbolic bridge between life and death. It captures both the tragic nature of the event and the narrator’s imaginative attempt to make sense of his mother's story, blending memory with metaphorical interpretation.
Walking the Tightrope
"…I recalled the scene as though witnessing a dangerous tightrope act" (Peaches, p. 8).
The narrator, a young boy, observes his mother conversing with a family friend about delicate matters. The simile conveys the tension and uncertainty of the moment, illustrating the narrator's limited understanding and the precarious balance of adult situations seen through a child's eyes.
The Circular Pram Image
"What emerges from this [speculation] is the arcane spectacle of me as a boy, wheeling a pram that holds my infant self" (Peaches, p. 10).
This metaphor encapsulates the self-referential and recursive nature of memory. The narrator recognizes that retrospection often substitutes one's interpretation of history for objective truth, revealing more about the self than reality.
Emotions Mirrored in Nature
Abe frequently compares human emotions to natural phenomena. For example, depressive moods may be likened to a "stormy sea" (Peaches, p. 6). These metaphors emphasize the intensity and turbulence of the inner world, allowing readers to visualize emotions vividly.
