“A jack-of-all-trades” (“Cathedral”)
In “Cathedral” Robert is styled as a jack-of-all-trades as his life is abounding. He has been into distributorship business and he has been a radio interpreter. The metaphor demonstrates that Robert’s impaired vision does not hold him back him, from leading a thriving career and earning wage just like the other people with eyes.
“A matter of life and death” (“Kindling”)
In “Kindling”, Myers “decided that he would cut this wood and split it and stack it before sunset, and that it was a matter of life and death that he do so.” Myers resolves to finish the job that he started even though he will not receive any monetary consideration. The metaphor, “a matter of life and death”, give emphasis to the intrinsic impetus that the kindling brings Myers. Furthermore, the motivation transcends that which would come from external rewards such as payment from Sol. Perhaps, the kindling is what Myers needs for him to refocus his life which he has been finding to be meaningless.
