Simile: John as Sinner
The narrator explains that John's father "always looked at him as though John was a sinner, one who had to be watched all the time" (55). This simile emphasizes both Stanley's Christian viewpoint and his stern paternal role that makes John fear him. It also suggests that John lives in a constant state of guilt, paranoia, and anxiety.
Simile: John's Heart
At the beginning of the story, John's father questions him when he initially leaves the hut. The narrator says John "could hear the loud beats of his heart. It was like an engine pumping water” (56). By comparing John's heartbeat to an engine, the narrator emphasizes how nervous John's father makes him and how John's greatest fear in life is upsetting his father.
Simile: Shadow
After having dinner with his parents and before visiting Wamuhu, John travels to his own hut, where he lights a lantern before leaving. The narrator says, “like a shadow, he stealthily crossed the courtyard and went on to the village street" (60). Here, the narrator suggests that John is moving quietly and imperceptibly in order to keep his objective a secret. The comparison of John to a shadow also highlights his lack of autonomy as he becomes torn between two disparate paths.
