The imagery of the sick boy ( “Witness”)
The boy is pale, sickly and helpless. He is not self-reliant as he cannot move, see or talk. Nonetheless, the boy uses his sense of touch to connect with his parents. When he feels discomfort he strokes his cheek. Richard Selzer gives a picture of a boy while in the operating room by likening him to ice and fish. The comparison draws attention to the boys susceptibility.
The imagery of the testicle ( “Witness”)
The testicle is anomalous and perverted; thus, it would not function ordinarily even if the doctor were not to remove it. Due to its oddity, it lacks blood supply; hence, cannot bleed even when the doctor cuts it. The black color gives emphasis to the unviability of the testicles.
The imagery of the lump ( “Witness”)
The protuberance is red and its size is comparable to that of a walnut. The inclusion of the lump’s size and color constructs an imagery of an uncharacteristic lump.
The imagery of a Brain-Dead man (“Whither Thou Goest”)
The brain-dead status makes Sam reliant on machines which cannot return him to his typical life. Sam’s state of affairs epitomizes the hardships that are attributed to comas.
The imagery of a tornado (“Whither Thou Goest”)
Richard Selzer describes a storm that activates Hannah’s rational thought process. The storm ensues precipitously and it gets rid of Hannah even though it is something that she cannot apprehend. The tornado condenses the burden that had been accruing in Hannah’s body. The abruptness of the storm foretells Hannah’s epiphany which comes unexpectedly too.
The imagery of Hannah on Pope’s Chest (“Whither Thou Goest”)
If a person without information about the intention for Hannah inclination on Pope’s chest were to come into the room, that person would have resolved that the two are lovers. However, the imagery formed in the scene portrays two individuals who are integrated by a heart. Hannah is unperturbed on Pope’s chest even though he is not her lover. A reader can visualize Hannah engrossed into the process of pay attention unmindful of all the other things in the room.
