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Irony
Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
Chapter 9: I’m Here
Explanation and Analysis—Shark Attack:
In Chapter 9, Stevenson and his colleague Michael O'Connor enjoy an afternoon at the beach after they finish presenting what should be an air-tight appeal of Walter McMillian's initial conviction. Stevenson introduces an extended metaphor that creates an atmosphere of suspense throughout the scene:
Recently, stranded at the airport with nothing else to read, I had read an article about shark attacks. As I approached the waves at Fort Morgan, now lit by the sunset, I remembered that sharks feed at dusk and at dawn. I watched Michael swimming far off shore, and as fun as it looked, I knew I’d be the more vulnerable target if a shark showed up. Michael swam like a fish while I barely stayed afloat.
Related Themes:
Chapter 10: Mitigation
Explanation and Analysis—Milkshake:
In Chapter 10, Stevenson tells the story of a client named Avery Jenkins, who asks Stevenson for a chocolate milkshake every time he sees him. After a racist White prison officer has a change of heart and gets Avery a milkshake himself, the milkshake becomes a metaphor:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Avery never again asked me for a chocolate milkshake. We won a new trial for him and ultimately got him off death row and into a facility where he could receive mental health treatment. I never saw the officer again; someone told me he quit not long after that last time I saw him.
Related Themes:
