Marriage a la Mode

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which an object or a person is compared to an unrelated thing to highlight certain qualities. In the story, there are a few metaphors: William imagines “one of Isabel’s young poets lapping up a slice [of the children’s fruit]” (1). Here the word “lapping” compares the poets to animals, characterizing them as irresponsible and uncivilized. Another important metaphor is William reflecting that “Isabel was that rose-bush, petal-soft, sparkling and cool. And he was still that little boy” (2). Isabel’s beauty transports him back to his childhood garden, where he used to shake a rosebush after the rain. Thus, his ideal of Isabel and their love is childlike and innocent.

The story also uses simile, a metaphor that uses “like” or “as” to make the comparison more explicit. One simile in the story is “one bird drifted high like a dark fleck in a jewel” (2). This sentence creates the image of an imperfect jewel, highlighting the tension between the beautiful countryside and the alienation William feels there due to his wife’s friends. In another simile,

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now