Ticking Bomb (metaphor)
The protagonist uses the metaphor of a "bomb ticking away inside me, man" to describe his inner turmoil and emotional distress. This is an effective metaphor because it expresses both the intensity of his emotional state as well as its destructive potential. If Roelf does not do something soon, he risks doing irrevocable damage to himself and those around him. In addition, bombs can cause destruction not only through their explosive force but also through their shockwaves. Similarly, Roelf fears that even if he releases some of his pent-up emotion by smashing up the Christmas tree, it will still reverberate and affect others in dangerous ways. This metaphor captures perfectly how out of control one can feel when faced with overwhelming emotions.
Finding the Grave (metaphor)
Roelf incorporates a metaphor to describe his mission of finding closure and resolution for the accident that occurred. He asserts, "One of those graves is hers and we are going to find it tomorrow." This metaphor symbolizes the idea that a grave is an answer or resolution for an unresolved issue. By seeking out her grave, the speaker hopes to finally have a sense of closure after months of searching for answers. Roelf recognizes this when he says, "If I can stand beside her grave it would maybe be even better than just knowing her name." In other words, recognizing the reality of death allows him to accept his loss more fully and move on with his own life. It illustrates that sometimes one must go through difficult experiences before one can truly understand how to move forward with their life following tragedy or loss.
Decay (metaphor)
Roelf contrasts the fate of humans to food being put in a deep freeze. He affirms that "it's not like the deep freeze we got at home—put in the nice fish you caught in the river and take it out six weeks later and there it is…good as new." This illustrates how death does not always treat people kindly. He likens death to an experience similar to what happens to Arnie Vosloo in the Mummy film, where his corpse becomes decayed and full of worms. The metaphor stresses that regardless of race or gender everyone suffers the same fate during death. It demonstrates the fleeting nature of life no matter how much we may try to avoid or postpone it. Roelf illustrates that even though we may try to prolong life, ultimately death awaits us all.
Drunk (simile)
Simon utilizes the simile "his words were all mixed up like he was drunk" to describe how Roelf spoke while holding a conversation. This simile gives insight into Simon's confusion in the situation as well as indicating that the white man may have been speaking with an unfamiliar accent or dialect. The comparison of his words to being drunk further indicates that Roelf was disoriented. Through this use of figurative language, the narrative also highlights the cultural divide between Simon and the white man by showing how their different backgrounds can lead to communication breakdowns.
Like Animals (simile)
The protagonist compares the living conditions of the people to that of animals because of the deplorable state of their environment. The comparison highlights their lack of basic amenities due to the inequality in their society. Roelf accentuates how harsh life can be for those who live in poverty. He creates a vivid image of children crawling around without clothes and living in filth. Society has failed these people by not providing them with adequate resources and protection from harm. The comparison between humans and animals shows the struggle with ensuring everyone has equal opportunities for success. It also serves to create a sense of empathy toward these individuals and their plight.
