* Loss of individuality and conformity: The procedure standardizes beauty, erasing unique features and creating a homogenous population. This mirrors the pressure to conform to societal expectations and abandon personal identity.
* Control and manipulation: The "Pretty" procedure is a tool of social control, implemented by the ruling class to manage and pacify the population. It represents the ways in which powerful institutions can manipulate individuals through appearances and desires.
* The superficiality of beauty and the dangers of obsession: The intense focus on outward appearance obscures deeper issues and values. The "Pretties" obsession with their looks demonstrates how a focus on superficial beauty can lead to emptiness and a lack of genuine connection.
* The loss of youth and the transition to adulthood: While the "Pretty" transformation itself is physically focused on youth, its ramifications are broader and deal with accepting adulthood's responsibilities and choices, some of which are irrevocable.
While other metaphors exist within the narrative (e.g., specific imagery used to describe things, or the use of names that carry symbolic weight), the "Pretty" transformation is the central and most overarching metaphor, functioning on multiple levels to comment on societal pressures, the complexities of identity, and the consequences of blind pursuit of perfection.