In the context you're describing, Soapy referring to jail as "the island" is an example of metaphor. A metaphor is a figurative language technique in which one thing is described as if it is another, highlighting a particular quality or characteristic. In this case, calling jail "the island" likely emphasizes feelings of isolation or entrapment, similar to how an island can be separated from the mainland.
In the story soapy refers to the jail as the island what figurative language technique is this an example of
1 answer