"All the old people I know have had their minds locked up like grey, scaly oysters since they were in their teens."

— Durrell, Gerald (1925-1995)


Place of Publication
New York
Publisher
Penguin Books
Date
1956
Metaphor
"All the old people I know have had their minds locked up like grey, scaly oysters since they were in their teens."
Metaphor in Context
'Well, I can assure they do talk, she said. 'They hold long conversations with each other ... at least I presume them to be conversations, for I don't understand what they're saying naturaly. When you're as old as I am you'll probably be able to hear them as well; that is, if you retain an open mind about such matters. Most people say that as one gets older one believes nothing and is surprised at nothing, so that one becomes more receptive to ideas. Nonsense! All the old people I know have had their minds locked up like grey, scaly oysters since they were in their teens.'
(p. 225)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Durrell, Gerald. My Family and Other Animals. New York: Penguin, 1956.
Date of Entry
12/15/2008

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.