Like A Ship in Full-Sail (Simile)
The narrator describes Coutras' wife in the following terms: “She came in, like a ship in full sail, an imposing creature, tall and stout.” This comparison to a ship emphasizes both her intimidating physical form as well as the shape of her body. It also serves to highlight that she has authority in the household.
Strickland's Demon (Metaphor)
Towards the end of the novel, after recounting the final days of Strickland's life, the narrator states: “The demon which possessed him was exorcised at last, and with the completion of the work, for which all his life had been a painful preparation, rest descended on his remote and tortured soul.” The narrator imagines Strickland's artistic motivation as a "demon" whose "possession" of him pushed him to work relentlessly. This metaphor works to characterize Strickland's working process as intense and, ultimately, destructive.
Sympathy Like an Oil-Well (Simile)
The narrator notes that Amy is sympathetic. He writes: “Mrs. Strickland had the gift of sympathy. It is a charming faculty, but one often abused by those who are conscious of its possession: for there is something ghoulish in the avidity with which they will pounce upon the misfortune of their friends so that they may exercise their dexterity. It gushes forth like an oil-well, and the sympathetic pour out their sympathy with an abandon that is sometimes embarrassing to their victims.” By comparing her displays of sympathy to the gushing of "an oil-well," he suggests both the over-the-top quality of these moments, as well as their somewhat artificial nature.
Horrible Like Raw and Putrid Flesh (Simile)
While describing one of Strickland's paintings, the narrator writes that “there were purples, horrible like raw and putrid flesh.” This simile works to characterize the vivid intensity of Strickland's choice of color, while also showcasing the unsettling quality inherent to many of his works.
Like Figures in an Old Tapestry (Simile)
Towards the beginning of the book, the narrator writes: “On reading over what I have written of the Stricklands, I am conscious that they must seem shadowy… As they stand they are like the figures in an old tapestry; they do not separate themselves from the background, and at a distance seem to lose their pattern, so that you have little but a pleasing piece of colour.” He compares the Stricklands to "figures in an old tapestry" to highlight the lack of depth in his initial portrayal of them. This simile works to criticize the narrator's characterization as insufficiently detailed.
