The Golden Calf (Metaphor)
Puttana warns Annabella early in the play that Donado is trying to make his nephew, Bergetto, into a "golden calf" in order to marry Annabella. She says, "The rich magnifico that is below with your father, charge, Signor Donado his uncle, for that he means to make this his cousin a golden calf, thinks that you will be a right Israelite and fall down to him presently" (1.1). Here, Puttana uses a metaphor to compare Bergetto to a golden calf – a false idol – and Annabella to an Israelite, who would worship a false idol without question. Puttana cautions Annabella against falling for this trick.
Giovanni's Flattery (Simile)
When they first begin their incestuous relationship, Giovanni courts Annabella as if she is any other woman. He tells her, "Such a pair of stars / As are thine eyes, would, like Promethean fire, / If gently glanced, give life to senseless stones" (1.3). Here, Giovanni uses a simile to compare Annabella's eyes to the fire stolen from the gods by the Ancient Greek figure Prometheus. Giovanni means to compliment his sister by saying that her eyes could bring stone to life, but he leaves out the fact that Prometheus was cruelly punished for his transgression, thereby foreshadowing the fates of himself and his sister.
Bergetto's Pursuit (Simile)
When Bergetto realizes that Donado wishes to control his romantic life, he complains to his friend, Poggio, that his uncle is too involved and controlling. Poggio agrees that Bergetto should take matters into his own hands regarding Philotis, saying, "Ay, let him not bob you off like an ape with an apple" (3.1). Here, Poggio compares Donado to an ape and Bergetto to an apple that is being tossed – a rather insulting comparison that suggests Bergetto is indeed rather powerless in the situation.
Hippolyta's Death (Simile)
When Hippolyta attempts to poison Soranzo at the wedding feast, Vasquez reveals that he has already poisoned her own wine and that she will soon die. He tells her, "Foolish woman, thou art now like a firebrand, that hath kindled others and burnt thyself" (4.1). Here, Vasquez uses a simile to compare Hippolyta to a firebrand – a piece of burning wood – that has sought to "burn" others but has really only ended up destroying herself. Interestingly enough, this comparison could likely apply to a number of other characters in the play.
Soranzo's Revenge (Metaphor)
When Vasquez attempts to convince Soranzo to think and act reasonably rather than out of anger, Soranzo initially cannot calm down. He says to Vasquez, "Revenge is all the ambition I aspire; / To that I’ll climb or fall. My blood’s on fire!" (5.2). Here, Soranzo uses a metaphor to compare revenge to the summit of a mountaintop that he plans to "climb" in order to achieve satisfaction. When he says his blood is "on fire," he suggests that he is so enraged by the news of Annabella's incestuous relationship that he is driven only by bodily fury rather than a sound mind.
