Final answer:
King uses metaphors like the cessation of natural elements, an angelic spirit's departure, and life as a definitive battle to convey the absolute finality of death. These metaphors illustrate the inescapable nature of death and its role as a pivotal moment in one's existence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kings use several metaphors to describe the finality of death, which convey the sheer permanence and impact of passing away. One of these metaphors compares death to the cessation of running water or the stillness that follows the end of wind in the treetops, suggesting a sudden and definitive halt to life's motion. Another metaphor is the life of a woman whose soul takes a 'heavenward flight' as a birthmark fades from her cheek, indicating the transition from a flawed mortal existence to a perfect afterlife. Finally, a metaphor likens death to a powerful current in which the subject, amidst the chaos and shock of an execution, becomes the pivotal point around which the world turns, symbolizing the centrality and the isolating nature of one's own death experience.
One example given is, "Alas! it was too true! The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame." This talks about the inescapable grasp of death as it separates the soul from the body, echoing the notion that death is a defining moment from which there is no return, much like losing a battle and facing the consequences. Another example is, "This man's life was over, and he had lost the victory." This frames death as the ultimate defeat in the battle of life, underscoring its inevitability and finality.