Delano's Transformation
One powerful imagery is that of Delano's transformation as he visits Miami with his father on the weekend. Delano's biceps and shoulders grow round and taut as if tennis balls have been implanted beneath the skin. His skin darkens and his cheekbones are described as being "burned ashen". This imagery paints a vivid picture of Delano's physical transformation and his connection to his father and his heritage. It demonstrates that Delano is embracing his identity and his place in the world and that he is becoming more confident in himself and in his ability to navigate the cultural divide between himself and his Jamaican classmates. The imagery speaks to the struggles of navigating multiple cultures and identities, and the strength that can be found in embracing one's own identity.
Heat
The narrator uses vivid imagery to illustrate the heat that the protagonist has been enduring in the car. It describes St. Pierre, the mechanic, standing outside the car with his arms stretched out over the roof and then quickly retracting them due to the intense heat. He then brushes his nose against the glass and his eyes fill up the space above. This imagery gives the reader a sense of the extreme heat that the protagonist has been trapped in and the discomfort that St. Pierre is feeling. It also serves to emphasize the difference between the two characters, as St. Pierre is just feeling the heat, but the protagonist has been enduring it for hours.
Dead Cats
The narrator uses imagery to describe the gruesome outcome of the animals that the family has brought home. One of the most striking images is the hamster that was discovered "protruding from its cage-mate's ruined jaw". This intense imagery conveys the horror and shock of the family discovering one hamster half-emerging from the jaw of the other. This violent and disturbing scene highlights the family's realization that the house is ‘cursed’ and that their efforts to care for the animals are futile. The use of the religious phrase "Jesus, Joseph, and Mary" by the father emphasizes the gravity of the situation and heightens the emotional impact of the scene.
Marina in Smuggler's Key
The narrator gives a detailed description of the waterfront, from the residential area with its "more sand than grass, more shipyard than a driveway; rowboats and kayaks lean against manatee-shaped mailboxes and over porch railings" to the docks which are bustling with activity. The morning sun is described as melting "everything to a chowder of dead fish and salt". This imagery conjures up a vivid image of a sleepy fishing village as it comes to life in the morning. The salty smell of the sea and the sound of the boats coming to life in the harbor is almost palpable. It reinforces the idea that Smuggler's Key is a humble and hardworking community, a place where Cukie can go to find the redemption he is searching for.
