The simile of the sky
Malone is attending a church sermon that is being delivered by Dr. Watson. The preacher is known for making comparisons between sports and business in his sermons to attract the attention of the congregation. During this particular sermon, the preacher is focused on comparing death and beads. Malone listens attentively but he is confused because he does not understand why death remains a mysterious concept. The point made by the preacher that a bead can be drawn from death made Malone think that it is impossible like aiming at the sky. Malone thinks, "It was like aiming at the sky. Malone stared up at the blue, unclouded sky until his neck felt stained." According to Malone, understanding death is like aiming at the sky and that is why it remains a mystery even to preachers like Dr. Watson.
The simile of Malone’s disease
Malone's disease is mysterious because most doctors in Milan find it complicated. Malone has reached a point where he does not trust the doctors in Milan any longer because they seem not to understand his condition at all. He is seriously considering visiting the John Hopkins Hospital because it is known for treating complex and rare diseases like his. He is making a comparison of complicated and rare diseases like his when he says, "I knew they treated rare, uncommon diseases like mine.” The simile tells the reader that Malone is trying his level best to seek medication for his complex condition. He is comparing his disease to other complex and rare disease that can only be treated in John Hopkins but not in Milan.
Digging the grave with own teeth (Metaphor)
Malone gets solace from the talks of people who suffered from rare conditions like his and how they overcame. During one moment, Malone listens to the judge giving a testimony. The judge has a rare skin condition that could not have been treated in any other hospital except John Hopkins. He remembers how his wife died from a complicated disease and he regrets why he did not take her to John Hopkins Hospital that saved his own life from a complicated disease.
The judge's intuition tells him that his failure to take his wife to a hospital that could have saved her life is the beginning of him digging his own grave with his teeth. The Judge says, "When my beloved wife died, I was so miserable I began digging my grave with my teeth." Digging the grave with his teeth is metaphorical in meaning because it shows the start of the sorrow and memories of the judge for losing his wife. The thought that there could be an alternative treatment that could have prevented his wife from dying brings sorrow and painful memories.
The simile of generalizations
As Jester is conversing with his father, he is asked a question on what he wants to become in the future. Jester's father is ailing and poor and he says that he cannot afford his son's education. However, Jester tells him not to worry. The Judge remembers that there is a saying that the best things in this world are free. However, the author compared the truth and validity of this saying to all generalizations when he writes, "It is both true and false like all generalizations.” The judge jumps to the conclusion that education in their country is free and he can later link Jester to West Point to get an appointment. However, Jester says that he is not ready to be an army because he loves music and flying.
The simile of the challenge
Jester is challenging his father and grandfather to talk about the justice of the white supremacy. This is a hot topic to handle and the author compares it to the loaded pistol flung across the table when he says, “The challenge was plain as a loaded pistol flung across the table.” When Jester finds out that he has been blinded throughout his life to believe in the justice of white supremacy, he questions his father and grandfather why they made him believe so. However, this topic was hard to tackle, and that why it is compared to the loaded pistol.
