Hampton Sides' use of figurative language in the book The Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette establishes how obsessed Dr. August Petermann is with having another success in his recently lackluster career. Petermann, a successful geologist, ran the Anstalt at the Justus Perthes publishing company, which has “long been regarded as Germany’s preeminent publishing centers” (Sides 155). Regardless of his previous success, Petermann lacks the capability to once again bring acclaim to his center because “it was as though he were in mourning” (Sides 169). Sides compares the doctors situation to deep sadness, which is ironic because Petermann truly is depressed due to his daughters death. Petermann’s “mood had grown
