"A narrative is like a room on whose walls a number of false doors have been painted; while within the narrative, we have many apparent choices of exit, but when the author leads us to one particular door, we know it is the right one because it opens"

This quote by John Updike is a metaphor for the structure of a story. A story is like a room with numerous false doors painted on the walls. These incorrect doors represent the choices and courses that the story could take. However, when the author leads the reader to one specific door, it is the ideal one since it opens. This is symbolic of the author's control over the narrative and how they guide the reader through the story. It likewise suggests that the author has a clear vision of the story and understands which door to open in order to reach the desired outcome. Ultimately, this quote is a suggestion that the author is in control of the narrative which the reader need to trust their judgement.