The simile of the horse
The narrator is reflecting on how his heart is broken and there is nothing that seems to make him happy. His emotion is pale and immobilized. He tries to embrace joy and things that should make him happy but in vain because his heart remains broken. He decides to go horse riding in the forest because he believes it will make him forget the depression that he is going through. While riding the horse, his feelings are far and he thinks that he is flying. He says, "When I rode slowly through the forest, it was as though I flew; now when the horse froths ready to drop, it seems as though I do not budge." The simile paints a picture of how the narrator is disconnected from the things he is physically doing because he is in deep thought.
Wealth and Power (Metaphor)
More often, people die looking for power and wealth. The society we live in is engineered to believe that the source of happiness is power and wealth. However, the narrator paints an opposite picture because he says that given an opportunity he would not wish for wealth and money but for the passion of the possible which creates an avenue to the natural happiness and composure. The narrator says, "My soul has lost possibility and were I to wish for anything, I would not wish for wealth and power, but for the passion of the possible, that eye which everywhere, ever young, ever burning, sees possibility." Wealth and Money are metaphorically used in this text to imply that peace of mind is the greatest wealth any individual can ask for. People can have money and lots of wealth but still, live a miserable life. Therefore, the metaphor in this context is that money and wealth cannot buy happiness.
The Simile of an Eagle's Eyrie
The narrator is in deep sorrow and he is sharing his experiences with the readers. He articulates, "My sorrow is my knight's castle, which lies like an eagle's eyrie high up upon the mountain speaks among the clouds." The narrator compares his sorrow to an eagle's eyrie showing the depth of unhappiness in his life. The reader finds it satanical that a well-established man with almost everything still cries for happiness. However, this simile paints the reality of life in which many people are yearning for happiness because what they own is not enough to help them find joy.
The simile of eternity
The narrator thinks that his life is ruined and doomed. He does not see any hope of achieving his ultimate goal, happiness. He thinks that his sorrow is endless just like eternal darkness. The narrator says, “My life is like an eternal night; when last I die, I can say with Achilles." The simile depicts the hopelessness of the narrator in his pursuit of happiness.
The simile of the old man
The narrator believes that he is living in a different world just like an eagle. He is flying and he sees himself catching prey and bringing it down to his castle. Then he imagines that he is an old man telling a child a story but to his surprise, the child already knows everything about the story being told. He says, "Then I sit thoughtfully like an old man, grey-headed, and in a low voice, almost a whisper, explain the pictures; and by my side, a child sits and listens, even though he remembers everything before I tell it.”
