An illness called country (metaphor)
In the very beginning of the story, the protagonist meets Mr. Tench, a local dentist, and asks him whether he has some alcohol, for medicinal purposes. Mr. Tench answers he has none, and asked what disturbed this man, and the priest answered that “his illness was this country”. With this metaphor, the author from the very beginning draws a plot line concerning authorities and their way of running the country, and it becomes obvious that his illness is of inner issues, meaning that his soul aches for people.
Hateful Lieutenant (metaphor)
The Lieutenant is a striking representative of the Mexican government of the time; he pursued and punished those who supported the Church and believed in God. When the was looking on the priest’s photo, “hatred pierced Lieutenant's heart”.
Death on the foreign land (metaphor)
Mrs. Fellows was very afraid to die in a land that was nor hers. Day after day this “terror” stood behind her and “efforts put forth by her not to look behind exhausted her”. She became more and more distant to her husband, and their relationships became very cold. Being scared to death by approaching death was her the biggest trouble.
A birthmark (simile)
Koral, Fellows’ daughter, was intensely concerned with the priest’s troubles; she heartily wanted to help him. She asked what he was accused of, and he said that his biggest guilt was his faith. She offered for him to renounce his faith. He said it was impossible, his “faith was like a birthmark”.
