This Woven Kingdom

“I turn to right and left, in all the earth I see no signs of justice, sense or worth: A man does evil deeds, and all his days are filled with luck and universal praise; Another’s good in all he does— He dies a wretched, broken man whom all despise.

But all this world is like a tale we hear— Men’s evil, and their glory, disappear.

—Abolghasem Ferdowsi, Shahnameh”

The antithesis between good and evil, justice and injustice, serve to underline the contradictions and complexities in the human condition. Another aspect is the metaphor that compares the world to “a tale we hear.” This metaphor encapsulates the ephemeral and almost illusory nature of human experiences. It also serves as a commentary on the transient nature of both glory and suffering. Parallelism is also at play, particularly in the lines discussing a man doing evil deeds and receiving praise, for these images present a sharp contrast to that of a man doing good deeds and receiving disdain.

“The roar of Alizeh’s imagination was quieted, always, by an unfortunate need for self-preservation.”

The most prominent use of figurative language in this passage is the metaphor, which is embodied in the phrase “the roar of Alizeh’s imagination.” This metaphor portrays imagination to be a powerful, almost uncontrollable force akin to a lion’s roar. It serves to elevate the concept of imagination to something primal and overwhelming, capable of shaping one’s world in potent ways. However, the strength of this “roar” is “quieted” by another abstract concept, “an unfortunate need for self-preservation.” The word “quieted” acts as an antonym to “roar,” and emphasizes how the need for self-preservation suppresses or silences the imagination.