53 – “As if, in some way, the nature of the game was controlling me taking me towards a logical but frightening conclusion”
The use of the game metaphor comes up when two climbers reach the Summit and it supports the idea that the risks of climbing come as a result of some kind of compulsion or addiction.
146 – “It looked like a Renaissance painting, in the Sistine Chapel, where the white bearded old man pointing his finger from the ceiling was supposed to be God.”
Comparing his hallucinations to that of a painting using similies. Talking about his hallucinations using a heavenly god like background shows that he may be having faith in God.
150 – “It was barren and lifeless; I hated the place for its cruelty, and for what it had made me do. I wondered whether I had murdered him.”
The author is speaking from the Simon’s point of view and is applying the adjective “murder” to Simon which indicates that he feels that his actions where purposeful and did cause Joe’s apparent death. Also it is personifying the mountain as an evil entity as he claims it was the reason for this all happening, so he blames the mountain for causing it all.
150 – “I spent a long time at the pool, cleaning my clothes and picking at the sunburn on my face. It was a peaceful cleansing ritual and my despair gradually faded as I mulled over the past few days.”
Simon feels guilty over the events which have occurred and the pool can symbolise washing the guilt of him as he is cleansing himself, and attempting to clean the guilt as he believes he killed Simon. Also the word “ritual” shows it is an important sequence he is doing linking with religion like he is washing his sins away.
183 – “Something huge and bloated wallowed in my chest, squeezing my throat and emptying my guts.”
181 – “When I stood up it seemed that I lifted a heavy weight with me, an almost solid feeling of dread that had crept through me, and I despaired of going on any further.”
React!