Hysteria
To a certain degree, Night of the Iguana is a battle between the sexes. And one of the central tenets of the argument that man has always had used against women is distilled down to essentials by Shannon’s advice to Hank.
“It's the big female weapon, and the test of a man is his ability to cope with it, and I can't believe you can't.”
“generosity is the cornerstone of your nature”
Shannon delivers this complimentary metaphor—or metaphorical compliment—to Maxine. The observation acts as something of a foreshadowing of the relationship between the two and how things are going to end up for them.
Shannon v. Fellowes
Very early on it is established that an antagonistic relationship exists between Shannon and Judith Fellowes. This relationship is delineated through character dialogue in a vivid bit of metaphorical imagery in which Shannon describes Fellowes’ manner:
“Oh, God, here she comes chargin' up the hill like a bull elephant on a rampage!”
The Con
Hannah and her grandfather rub Maxine the wrong way. Very wrong. In reality, of course, Maxine is merely jealous of the attention that Hannah is receiving from Shannon. So, in a way, it could just as easily be said of Maxine that she is using Hannah’s grandfather every bit as much as she accused Hannah of using her grandfather in this quite specific metaphorical accusation:
“Why, you're dragging him around with you like Mexican beggars carry around a sick baby to put the touch on the tourists.”
The Iguana
The iguana that remains tied up under the veranda is the foremost metaphor in the play and its symbolic meaning is more than alluded to directly in the play by Shannon:
“The iguana? At the end of its rope? Trying to go on past the end of its goddam rope? Like you! Like me! Like Grampa with his last poem!”
The iguana is a captive to forces beyond its control, but still struggles to extend its life and enjoy a little bit of freedom before dying on its own terms.
