“Bad Egg”
Wicomb writes, “Jacques Theophilus Murray is a bad egg. Unlike an egg his badness is not contained, concealed within a sound, flawless shell. He is a drunk, and wears his drunkenness on his sleeve, which is to say that there are bags under his eyes, that his face is a flushed mass of veins concealed by his dark brown coloring.” The metaphorical ‘bad egg’ underscores Jacques’ manifest depravity. His unimpressive attitudes which are analogous to the stench of bad egg can be perceived because he does not strive to conceal them. Alcoholism contributes to Jacques moral and physical degeneration.
Pastry
Wicomb explains, “It is in the small, dark hours that things get tough, and Mercia must find ways of stemming the phantasmagoria of grief. The conference paper is finished, needs to rest ( like pastry, she advises her students, acquiring new properties in left-alone time) so that it becomes more legible for the final edit.” Allowing the paper to rest in the same way as pastry is an essential step in writing course which permits the writer to reflect. Reflections arising from the reflection offer hints on refining the paper further. Skipping the resting phase could result in an uninviting paper.
"Soul to Die"
Wicomb elucidates, “In Glasgow Mercia insists on the distinction between living and staying; she is only there temporarily; it cannot be her home. She visits Kliprand often, but knows at the same time that to stay there would allow the soul to die rather than to live.” The metaphorical dying alludes to unhappiness which Mercia would face as a result of residing in Kliprand. Mercia has categorical reservations about setting her home in Kliprand although it is her native home.
Midges
Wicomb explains, "Determined also to focus on other, less familiar areas, Mercia agreed to chair another panel and so keep at bay Craig's words that otherwise would mill about her head like midges." Mercia immerses herself in other activities to prevent herself from thinking about her break-up with Craig. Craig's utterances prior to their break-up is equivalent to bothersome bugs which Mercia desires to disremember. The midge-like words would bother and hurt her so she prefers to suppress their reality.
Bile
Wicomb describes, “Mercia, awash with tears, swallowed repeatedly to find her voice. She said , Yes, okay, of course, she understood, but then could not stop the bile from entering her words. Someone younger, more attractive, someone less preoccupied with her work, with a job that allows for leisure time; indeed-yes, she said that word, indeed-someone with an eager womb.” Bile connotes Mercia’s bitterness which is ascribed to Craig’s resolution to terminate their relationship. She is devastated by the break-up that she utters painful remarks. Evidently, she does not endorse their break-up, otherwise; she would not be bitter. Her allusion to her womb demeans her by implying that her womb is ‘uneager’ or inferior, and hence cannot give Craig babies.
