Extended Metaphors In Hawthorn's Excerpt

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In Hawthorn 's excerpt, he uses an extended metaphor, comparing an eagle to the United States government, through contrast, imagery, and bitter diction to convey a resentful tone in regards to American authority. He describes the eagle as a threatening and dangerous creature, possessing a ¨fierceness¨ about her, not having a ¨softness and snugness of an eiderdown pillow”, as well as lacking compassion, as she would ¨fling off her nestlings”. This depiction clearly expresses his disdain and contempt feelings toward the government. In this passage from the Custom-House, Hawthorne describes his hometown- Salem´s, distressed sea port, after the war with England. He uses dreary diction and imagery, like ¨scorned¨, ¨tarnished¨, and ¨elderly¨ to