Anna in the Tropics Lesson Plan

Juan Julian says his father used to say that living in cities is like "living in the mouth of a crocodile." Why did his father say this? How does this statement develop the themes of the play?

His father was simply making a compelling comparison between the skyscrapers of a city and the teeth of a crocodile's mouth, but the fact that his father chose a crocodile instead another, less powerful or menacing animal suggests that his father sees the city as a predator. Juan Julian sees to agree, as he admits he feels asphyxiated and oppressed by the claustrophobia in the city (though, it is interesting because Juan Julian last said that he felt Tampa was full of big skies...