Alien Invaders
A big section of this book details the spread of European colonization in the New World. Upon first encountering the Aztecs, the author writes that Cortes was “Like a science-fiction alien emerging from his spaceship.” The comparison of this simile is especially appropriate. For one thing, Cortes literally was an alien. He was an immigrant equipped with the kind of futuristic weaponry that ray guns would be earthlings now.
Myth
On occasion, metaphor is used almost literally to convey a mythical belief. “Doctors alleged that blacks live in filth and spread diseases—in other words, they are a source of pollution.” The metaphorical description of an entire racial group as a pollutant is clearly metaphorical when viewed scientifically. The mythic belief persists to this day as literal truth, however, even among people in a position to execute laws based on this myth.
Tragic Non-Romance
Two theories have been forwarded about how Homo Sapiens may or may not have evolved with help from Neanderthals. In one theory, “even if a Neanderthal Romeo and a Sapiens Juliet fell in love, they could not produce fertile children, because the genetic gulf separating the two populations was already unbridgeable.” The metaphorical reference here to Shakespeare’s doomed lovers conveys through allusion the idea of incompatibility. Romeo and Juliet came from two families who wanted nothing to do with each other and this comparison is made between Sapiens and Neanderthals to support the theory that humans did not evolve with significant Neanderthal genetic strains.
Racism
The long-accepted theory of evolution is based on the fact that all humans share essentially the same DNA regardless of racial differences. There is another theory, however, which the author asserts “is political dynamite, which could provide material for explosive racial theories.” That other theory suggests that there could be genetic differentiations between racial divides going back many thousands of years. This view is partly the basis for the justification of racial bias and dehumanization of entire groups of people.
Patriarchal Dominance
Patriarchal systems span cultures and geography which inevitably raises the question of why masculinity is preferred over femininity. In response to the oft-raised explanation that might makes right and therefore simple strength forms the basis of patriarchy, the author turns to metaphor. “A guy who thinks that the way to take over the syndicate is to beat up the don is unlikely to live long enough to learn from his mistake.” This metaphorical example illustrates how simply being physically stronger is no basis for a social power structure. The comparative example does this by demonstrating how a much more physically fit young Mafioso (representing masculinity) cannot overpower a physically weaker older man (representing femininity) solely on the basis of muscular dominance. There has to be complicity throughout the social structure.
