How does the author use metaphor in the novel, The Wedding, by Nocholas Sparks?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that links the characteristics of one object to something seemingly unrelated. Noah's house is a metaphor for the state of Jane and Wilson's relationship. The home was once well loved and beautiful, but the garden and the house have been neglected for some time, resulting in its diminished beauty. A thick coat of dust covers everything inside and the pieces of furniture are covered with sheets so that they look like ghosts haunting the house. The roses in the garden have "grown wild" from neglect. When Wilson looks at them, he thinks there is "no way it could be salvaged except by pruning everything back and waiting another year for the blooms to return." This is similar to what he did with his relationship with Jane: after the debacle of the forgotten anniversary, Wilson pruned himself, cutting away the dead and withering things, and waited a year for the fruits of his labor—the wedding. With a little tending and care, the house resumes its former beauty. Likewise, Wilson's "innocent neglect" of his relationship to Jane caused them to drift apart, leaving their love not nearly as visible. With some care, Wilson is able to rekindle the romance with Jane, resulting in an energized marriage and a strengthened relationship.