The Epiphany Machine Figurative Language Essay

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You ever heard anyone say they experienced an epiphany, however appear completely off? They think they found a truth about themselves –not really. You try to tell them the truth, but they cut you off. So far in denial, nothing you say can make them change their mind. The short story “The Epiphany Machine” written by David Burr Gerrard provides great depth of characterization to develop the theme, adding figurative language to enhance secondary meanings to different situations and objects. These two elements come together to prove the theme the truth may not set you free but, make you more in denial.
First, in “The Epiphany Machine” the figurative language used helps enhance the secondary meaning of different situations and objects. One …show more content…

The protagonist represents the feelings that most would retain towards the machine. He feels the machine happens to make up the meanings up and insist the epiphanies ensue lies. Venter as stated before hates the machine, he finds it stupid. The audience can perceive Venters feelings as scared which they then can relate to. Finding out the truth about yourself can scare anyone. Venter persisted on not wanting to use the machine, but he does and after he uses it he finds out that he tends to worry a lot about what people think of him. His epiphany can apply to many, although they don’t want to admit it just like Venter, therefore making him relatable. Characters also guide the story by showing their true nature through words and actions, such as the actions taken by the protagonist that follow the theme of denying one’s truth. His words say one thing but his action show another. Venter wants to deny his truth because he doesn’t want to succumb to it. He doesn’t want to face his problem because basking in denial makes life easier then confronting the truth. In the scholarly journal “Reconstructing the Internal World of the Eating-disordered Individual: Overcoming Denial and Distortion in Self-report” states. “The most common interpretation of denial in anorexia nervosa is that it represents a conscious, willful misrepresentation of the facts that is undertaken to shield anorexic symptomatology from outside influence.” (Vitousek et al p. 649) The article basically says that we sometimes deny the truth, so by obligation we do not deal with the steps to fix it. In the story “The Epiphany Machine” the antagonist, which the readers can conclude as the epiphany machine operator Adam Loyns, represents an obstacle when he gets in the way of Venter finding his mother. However, Adam represents much more than that. Towards the end of the story he finds himself the reason as to why Venter got his tattoo.

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