Metaphors in "Matched by Ally Condie

1. The site personnel drag the incineration tube to a newly readied pile. The books’ backs are broken; their bones, thin and delicate, fall out. The workers shove them toward the incineration tube; they step on them. The bones crackle under their boots like leaves. It reminds me of fall, when the City brings around the incineration equipment to our neighborhoods and we shovel the fallen maple leaves into the tubes. My mother always laments the waste, since decayed leaves can be good fertilizer, just as my father laments the waste of the paper that could be recycled when he has to incinerate a library. But the higher Officials say some things are not worth saving. Sometimes it’s faster and more efficient to destroy. (Chapter 11)

2. I decide to keep the envelope, to put Ky’s artifact inside before I put it back in the pocket of my extra plainclothes for safekeeping. But before I do, I open the case and watch the spinning arrow. It settles on a point, but I still spin, wondering where to go. (Chapter 16)

3. Metaphors are also used as a way to symbolize the Societies ability to deprive its people from individuality. From the quote in chapter 11 it can be seen the social workers burn libraries often: "The workers shove them towards the incineration tube.... The bones crackle under their boots like leaves. The author uses this metaphor in order to show the reader, the dehumanization of people. The "bones crackle" is a personification showing how the books are almost like people, and are just as important. The parallels show how the loss of knowledge to the people. Knowledge in a way is a living breathing entity that is mercilessly burned at the command of the government.

4. Definition: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable or a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.

5. The doorbell rings. Xander. And the Official. I don’t think I’m ready to do this and I don’t know why. Or rather, I do know why, but I can’t look at it too closely right now or I know it will change everything. Everything. Outside the door, Xander waits for me. It strikes me that this symbolizes what is wrong here. No one can ever really come in, and when it’s time to let them, we don’t know how. (Chapter 17)

6. The metaphors used in "Matched" all display an aspect of Cassie's inner conflict. For instance, when the author says, " No one can ever really come in" it shows how Cassie is just not emotionally ready to accept Xander through her inability to open the door. She can't let him into her house because she still can't let him into her heart because of Ky. The conflict pays with the overall theme of the book- A double life. She is torn between two boys- a man she was originally "matched" with and another who she feels like is the one she truly should be match with. " I open the case and watch the spinning arrow. It settles on a point, but I still spin, wondering where a go." This quote from chapter 16 exemplifies her struggle to accept what path she should take. The comparison between the compass and her her show how she is indecisive, and unable to bring her life into a single direction much like the compass can.