walking away Flashcards
It is eighteen years ago almost to the day
He remembers the exact day - it’s an important memory
like a satellite wrenched from it’s orbit
negative simile- it’s unnatural as a satellite isn’t supposed to fall out of orbit - makes the son sound helpless and in danger. The father has stopped being the centre of his son’s life. ‘wrenched’ - the father found the separation to be sudden and painful.
half-fledged thing set free
Bird metaphor - the father feels his son isn’t ready to leave - concerned
Like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem
Natural simile contrasts with the satellite simile. ‘loosened’ is less painful and forced. Shows the father is coming to terms and accepting what happened - it’s a natural process.
Gnaws at my mind still
‘Gnaws’ is animalistic and vicious - he is still affected by seeing his son go through the tough process of growing up.
And love is proved in the letting go
The change to a more steady rhythm underlines how the father has come to a philosophical understanding - the son has to find his own identity and the father proves his love by letting him do so.
