A metaphor is a way to describe something using a word or phrase that is not typically used to describe that thing in order to create a more vivid image. Generally, the function of a metaphor is to engage the reader. This is often done by engaging multiple senses in an attempt to draw the reader “into” the novel. Adjectives are typically associated with a single sense; “loud” engages the auditory sense and “soft” engages ones sense of touch. In this way, adjectives are “flat” in comparison the multi-sensory experience that metaphors can evoke in the reader.
In Sula, Morrison writes “He’d have to stand in the back of Greater Saint Matthew’s and let the tenor’s voice dress him in silk…” (1).
The author likens the sound of the tenor’s voice to the feeling of being dressed in silk. The author engages the reader’s sense of touch by using the phrase “dress him in silk.” This is interesting given that a “tenor’s voice” is undoubtedly an auditory experience. Mixing senses in this way creates a more “whole” experience for the reader, more effectively drawing the reader into the novel. In this way, the metaphor evokes a feeling in the reader that typical sound-describing adjectives cannot.
This metaphor could be perceived differently depending on the discourse community because different people associate “silk” with different things. For example, someone who lives in a cool climate may see silk as cold and undesirable as a fabric. However, someone who lives in a warmer climate may perceive the feeling of silk as smooth and pleasant against the skin. In this way, the reader’s relationship with silk could affect the feelings evoked by this metaphor. Nonetheless, silk is generally associated with royalty and is regarded as a luxurious fabric so the positive connotations of the metaphor are likely not lost. Therefore, although different readers may “feel” different things when faced with this metaphor, there is probably not too much variance in the general image created by this metaphor.