A metaphor is defined as a comparison of one idea to another idea, usually similarities. What is does is that it can relate ideas and the level of expression of those ideas, for instance if the idea is perceived as dangerous or high priority or low priority.
Metaphors in my eyes also may be subjective to the person doing comparison, it may seem a comparison is imperative to one person or not, or they might perceive it as a different interpretation.
Metaphor from Sula: In part one, where Shadrack makes national Suicide day in a specific day and his very nonchalant about people killing themselves which makes people wonder about his sanity. However people eventually accept it and claim suicide and death as a part of fabric of life.
There are a few interpretations, the first one to me is that death is a natural part of life, that if life was a fabric that death would be on part of the cloth in the fabric. That it is natural.
Another interpretation could be that death and suicide and murder encompass life and that even those things may be bad or sad, its part of life and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. This interpretation makes more sense since everyone first thought Shadrack sounded crazy but eventually accepted the words he was saying.
The metaphor functions in one way to equilibrize the anxiety people have in bottom. Suicide and even death are hard concepts to grasp, usually our naturally instinct have high anxiety and avoid it at all cost, but understanding that it is inevitable and just letting go can help release that unwanted anxiety and find peace. I have added a image of a person walking toward death, and the setting is nothing less than peaceful because acceptance of death is essentially for living a anxiety free life.
Image of metaphor:
