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Similes
Chapter 28
Explanation and Analysis—Role Reversal:
In Chapter 28, Pino becomes emboldened by the sight of his brother Mimo threatening a group of Nazis with a gun. Pino attempts to arrest General Leyers himself, during which Sullivan uses situational irony to illustrate the two characters' sudden role reversal:
“I’ll take treason against you and Hitler any day,” Pino said, equally angry. “Turn around, and hands behind your head, mon général, or I will shoot you in the knees.” Leyers sputtered but saw Pino was serious and did as he was told.
The passage above displays situational irony due to Pino and Leyer’s sudden role reversal. Unlike earlier in the novel, it is Pino with the upper hand, able to control Leyers's movements and decisions with the threat of his loaded gun. The situation is ironic because at this point Leyers and Pino’s literal positions have not changed: Leyers remains a top-ranking Nazi official who has an exponentially larger amount of power than his driver, Pino. Leyers surrenders quite easily, as if he briefly forgot his own status as Pino's boss. Ultimately, the narration suggests that Leyers has a strong respect for the power of weaponry itself. Official rank and order become entirely futile if one person has a loaded gun and the other does not.
Related Themes:
