The Game of Life (Metaphor)
The title of the book, Intermezzo, is a term in chess that refers to an unexpected maneuver that forces your opponent to immediately counter. Throughout the book, chess often serves as a metaphor for life. One example occurs when, as they are getting to know each other, Margaret comments that Ivan only "makes good moves" when he plays chess (Chapter 2). Ivan corrects her by saying that he just does not "make horrible mistakes," to which she says, "I do." Here, the subject morphs from chess to life.
An Overwhelmed Mind As a Vessel (Metaphor)
When Peter and Ivan feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions, their minds "empty" or "buzz." This occurs to Peter when he is forced to confront the fact that he is navigating relationships with two women. After Sylvia suffers an intense bout of pain, Peter stays with her, informing Naomi that he will not make it back to his apartment for dinner. This leads to a "thoughtless feeling. Mind an emptied bowl almost echoing" (Chapter 13). Ivan feels a "buzzing sort of feeling in his head and brain: like an empty glass jar with a bluebottle trapped inside" after finding out that Peter, too, used to date a younger woman (Chapter 14).
Naomi's Resilience (Metaphor)
In trying to convince himself that Naomi will be perfectly alright living by herself in Kildare, Peter calls her "a carnivore" (Chapter 15). This unexpected metaphor relates to Naomi's supreme appetite for life, which Peter has commented on in previous chapters. Despite all the forces conspiring to keep her down, Naomi often relishes in her sensory experiences. This metaphor, however, says more about Peter than it does about Naomi. In a moment of insecurity, he projects his vulnerability onto her. He does not want to imagine the hurt she must be experiencing at this time. Instead, he focuses on her strength.
Crying as an Involuntary Response (Simile)
When Ivan emotionally breaks down after his physical fight with Peter, the need to cry "comes down over him like a nosebleed" (Chapter 16). In other words, it is completely involuntary. The sudden rush of emotion sweeps over him, rendering him unable to do anything but surrender to it. Vulnerability and loss of control overwhelm Ivan.
Social Constraints as a Net (Simile)
When Margaret affirms her desire for Ivan, she begins to feel "as if life had slipped free of its netting" (Chapter 8). The netting (which represents social constraints) holds Margaret's life in place. It simultaneously functions as a stabilizer and a restraint. Later, however, Margaret realizes that her "life is itself the netting, holding people in place, making sense of things" (Chapter 12). The net is not so easily escapable because it would leave her with a "senseless existence."