Remora, Remora

In “Remora, Remora,” Thomas Lux sets a regretful tone, using metaphor and imagery to explain the ever-existent and unfair social hierarchy of society. He uses the metaphor of sharks in the sea to describe how the smaller shark clings to the bigger shark, which can represent a boss, father, or any other main authority figure. He also uses a metaphor to show how the smaller shark learns and benefits from the bigger one, saying it’s “feeding off its crumbs.” He goes on to include many smaller and smaller sharks, each feeding off of each other. His imagery is key because he emphasizes that the shark next in line is only an “inch or two” smaller than its superior. He uses this to show that we give authority to people who are only just a little better than those they are leading, which may not be fair. Finally, he describes how the smallest in society get “sliced off” without a say or an opportunity in the world. He uses the title “Remora” because it means “sucker shark.”