Mystery book (Metaphor)
The novel Alias Grace is metaphorically connected to the patchwork quilts that Grace sews. There are very small and neat stitches, from which you can get a beautiful coverlet like readers can get an amazing book with its interesting story. Then you can sit and figure out. What is depicted here? What is this blanket about? What is the meaning of these symbols? Which secrets does the novel have? What is the meaning of the novel about murder and death? In addition, there are riddles that are invisible at first sight. Only the needlewoman knows the story of this white-blue coverlet. Only Margaret Atwood knows the story of her book.
Madness is another house (Metaphor)
When people say Grace that she went crazy, madness becomes like another side of the world, like a direction, like west. As Grace explains, “mad is a different house that you can step into”, or a completely different country. The walls are too empty, there are no pictures on them nor curtains on the window. Your world is empty. However, when you go mad, you do not go any other place. You stay where you are. You stay in this house. One day someone finds you and destroy your mad world.
Like a hungry dog (Simile)
Mrs. Humphrey is lonely. Dr. Jordan often speaks with her about life. However, he does not wish to encourage long conversations with Mrs. Humphrey. She is lonely – as well, she might be, married to the sodden and straying Major – “and loneliness in a woman is like hunger in a dog”. The author hints that a lonely woman dies, because loneliness is death.
Like crows (Simile)
“Doctors are like crows – if you see that two or three doctors have come together, it means that death is already close” and they are discussing it. The crows decide which part of the body they should tear out and escape with it. Therefore, it is with all doctors. This comparison shows that not all doctors are responsible.
