The road to freedom in America is a long, oftentimes twisted journey through tough times, false hope, and never seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Even after fighting on this road for so long, it is still sometimes never achieved. The similes present in Imbolo Mbue's Behold the Dreamers help readers understand the daily struggles that Jende Jonga and his family go through on their search for freedom.
IMAGERY
Some similes in Behold the Dreamers, such as "Its walls seemed to soar on forever, like an infinite spear..." (47) create imagery. This imagery enables visualization of the scene and provides a distinct comparison that the reader can relate to, allowing them to feel like they are witnessing the story in person. If a reader can create an image in their head and feel like they're the main character in the book, the author's purpose for writing the novel is more evident to them. Through these similes, the idea of Jende living the American Dream can be observed. However, this idea can create a false image that sometimes falls short of reality. The diction Mbue uses in these similes is important, as strong figurative language has a greater effect than poorly written figurative language. Mbue using "soar on forever" is much more powerful than if she had said "go on forever," which assists the reader to better understand the scene.
CHARACTER EMOTIONS
Other similes in this novel such as "...why spend four months of the year shivering like a wet chicken?" (81) exhibit how a character is feeling, which allows for greater understanding of the mood, since the mood of the book is often based on the mood of characters. By providing insight into the character’s feelings at that current moment, readers can connect with the character and sympathize with them. If the reader understands what Jende and his family are going through by seeing his emotions through these similes, it is apparent that he is on a long road filled with ups and downs to achieve freedom and the American Dream. Mbue also conveys the idea that everyone struggles with their situation at times, no matter their status in society, by using similes that describe the sadness of both Jende and Clark Edwards, his wealthy boss.
“Even as Behold the Dreamers takes some dark, vicious turns, it never feels cheaply cynical, grounded as it is in the well-imagined characters who try, through whatever means possible, to protect their families and better their lives.”--USA Today