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[Achebe]

I know "web of lies" is there primarily to rhyme with "demise" but there still needs to be a reason for using that cliche. For instance, the "other" could be a personified by a spider waiting for you to die in its web (the metaphorical lies). And you, an ineffective prey sleeping peacefully instead of struggling.

That might also be what billy was alluding to by "image/simile"