Character Change
Metaphor is used quite effectively by writers to describe massive changes in the personality of a person. The contrast between Eric as he used to be and as he is now it an example:
“I remembered him as the clever, kind, excitable boy he had been, and I thought of what he was now: a force of fire and disruption approaching the sands of the island like a mad angel, head swarming with echoing screams of madness and delusion.”
Personification
One of the most popular forms of metaphorical imagery is personification. The ability to treat a non-human entity as though it had human qualities can make the thought much more accessible or, as in this case, philosophical:
“The Sea is a sort of mythological enemy, and I make what you might call sacrifices to it in my soul, fearing it a little, respecting it as you’re supposed to, but in many ways treating it as an equal.”
Describing the Indescribable
Metaphor is also an invaluable tool for describing what otherwise is difficult to perceive in the mind. Give some a picture in their mind through comparison and description becomes much easier. Similes are the usual preference in this case rather that a direct metaphor:
“My right hand felt as though it was the size and colour of a boxing-glove.”
Pop Culture Allusion
A very specific use of simile to describe something difficult is to compare it to a pop culture icon. The danger here is that not all pop culture icons are equal; some are recognized by millions and others by hundreds of millions. Naturally, the more familiar the icon, the more readers will understand the description. For instance, choosing to have used “Leonard Nimoy” as his point of comparison in this example would not have changed the meaning and millions would still get it, but probably not nearly as many millions:
“Some unpleasant, cynical part of my mind told me that I looked like Mr. Spock in Star Trek, doing a mind-meld or whatever, but I ignored it”
Consistency
“The Wasp Factory” is not the kind of title that immediately gives away the subject of the story. It is a combination of words that act as enticement, but the author is purposely not being forthright. Even two pages away from the ending of Chapter Seven, the author is still willing to be a bit coy, choosing a metaphor as imprecise as the title itself:
“The Wasp Factory is beautiful and deadly and perfect.”
