La Grande Sauterelle
One of the character’s names—technically a nickname—is a metaphor. Or, that is to say, it is a comparison-through-simile which has earned her the unusual moniker. She points out the origin of her nickname which is French for “the great grasshopper” by pointing out that people started calling her La Grand Sauterelle
“because my legs are way too long, like a grasshopper’s.”
The Royal Bank
An allusion to myth is made in a metaphorical image stimulated by the concrete (and steel and glass) reality of the present. Upon gazing at the gold-dusted Royal Bank of Toronto, the distinctly New World legend of the city of gold strikes upon the imagination of one particular viewer:
“The building looked as bright and warm as honey, and they couldn’t help thinking about the gold of the Incas and the legend of Eldorado.”
The Sun Visor’s Message
At one point the Volkswagen seems to be imparting a secret message to its owners. Beneath the sun visor is discovered a phrase written in German. The point of the message is that it is only understandable if one speaks German, but when translated it turns out to be a metaphorical quote from philosopher Martin Heidegger:
“Die Sprache ist das Haus des Seins” (Language is the home of being.)
The Dashboard Message
Onto the dashboard of the VW van, the girl with the long legs tapes a repurposing of a familiar proverbial adage. The meaning is completely changed, of course, but entirely appropriate within the context of the postmodernist approach of the narrative. And, besides, La Grande Sauterelle proves herself a committed true believer to the power of literature:
“ONE WORD IS WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES.”
The Golden Gate Bridge
Probably no other single piece of American transportation infrastructure has inspired as many metaphors and similes as San Francisco’s famous Golden Gate Bridge. This is actually a little strange to those who have only seen it in photos as there is nothing all that distinctly different about the bridge structurally speaking. Anyone who has ever seen it in all its glorious reality knows different, however:
“It’s made half of steel and half of dreams”
