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Metaphor
Explanation and Analysis—Courage in the Heart:
In the beginning of Chapter 15, Jim sees a strange figure "flitting" in the woods "like a deer" and becomes frightened. However, remembering his pistol, Jim's fear begins to subside. He then uses a metaphor to describe his newfound confidence:
As soon as I remembered I was not defenseless, courage glowed again in my heart; and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island, and walked briskly towards him.
In the above passage, the abstract concept of courage is given a physical quality. Jim likens courage to a source of light and warmth in his body that gives him strength, wisdom, and power. Once he feels this new sense of power, Jim is able to move forward to face his fear of the stranger. This stranger importantly turns out to be Ben Gunn, a marooned member of Captain Flint's crew who eventually leads Jim and the other men to Captain Flint's buried treasure.
Stevenson uses this metaphor to make Jim's transformation more palpable to the reader. It is a crucial moment in the narrative, as it represents Jim's newfound maturity. Although fear almost stops him from taking action, Jim realizes he must adopt a courageous attitude in order to survive. Jim's decision to walk towards Gunn represents a shift towards adulthood. Jim begins to act for himself; although he is at times impulsive, his quickness of spirit allows him to sabotage the mutineers and prevent Captain Flint's treasure from falling into the wrong hands.
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