The Title
The rich metaphorical tapestry that covers the narrative from start to finish actually begins with the very title of the book itself. Cloud Cuckoo Land originated in The Birds, a play by ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. It is literally the name of a planned city in the clouds which is to be constructed on the hope that it will result in absolute authority over both gods and man. It has ever since become a metaphor for any exceedingly over-optimistic fantasy in which the certifiably impossible will become possible.
A Matter of Perspective
As stated, the use of metaphor and simile throughout the book is robust. Such figurative language is called into action time and again to perform a host of different duties. For instance, as in this one, the purpose of extending perception:
“The things that look fixed in the world, child—mountains, wealth, empires—their permanence is only an illusion. We believe they will last, but that is only because of the brevity of our own lives. From the perspective of God, cities like this come and go like anthills.”
Philosophizing
A book of this size—and it is a hefty tome, indeed—is inevitably going to introduce metaphor into the mix for the purpose of philosophizing. Unfortunately, not all the metaphors engaged for this purpose are particularly deep or original:
“In the hospital,” Sharif says, as he lights a cigarette, “before she died, my mother used to say, ‘Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.’”
Characterization
In addition to being a big novel, it is also packed with characters. And all that characterization is going to require the input of metaphorical richness to bring the people and event to life:
“Sensations roar back; his mind feels as if it becomes the huge, curved mirror of a radar telescope, gathering light from the farthest corners of the universe. Every time he steps outside, he can hear the clouds grinding through the sky.”
Books
Books and libraries are of utmost significance in the story. As a result, they hold a special place of importance worthy of metaphorical flights of fancy. Such as this bit of poetic inspiration:
“A text—a book—is a resting place for the memories of people who have lived before. A way for the memory to stay fixed after the soul has traveled on.”
