The smell of death
Martin describes his fear of death using imagery. When Cowart asks Martin why he is not quitting smoking, he responds, "Because they are the only things I have ever found that get the smell of death out of my nostrils." Every person is scared of death, but Martin's approach to cheating death is not only satirical but also unimaginable. According to martin, death smells, and his nostrils are not ready to entertain that odor. However, through this imagery, the reader easily concludes that Martin is not ready to quit smoking, not because he fears death, but because he looks for a scapegoat to continue smoking.
The Newsroom
The description of the wall at the newsroom depicts the sense of sight to create imaginary images for readers to see the surrounding where Cowart is walking. The author writes, "Next to the entrance was a wall devoted to plaques, citations, and awards: a parade of Pulitzers, Kennedy's, Cabots, Pyles, and others with more mundane names." The collection of newspapers, articles, political statements, and proposals show Cowart’s reading culture and ambitiousness.
The young woman
The fussy physical appearance of the receptionist captures the attention of Martin, thus, increasing the reader's curiosity to follow what happens next. The author writes, "When he walked through the doors, he was spotted by a young woman. She was blonde, tall, and trim, with a striking sheet of hair. She wore wire-rimmed glasses, sometimes peering over the top.” When Martin sees the receptionist, he is convinced that she will cooperate in helping him to understand more about Robert Earl Ferguson.
