What does よう mean in this sentence?


My difficulty comes from the last line. I realize that {{JP:かきむしる}} means
something like "to scratch off" and that {{JP:おさえる}} means something like "to
seize/grab hold of." I know that the first verb is modifying the {{JP:よう}} but
unless the reading "I grabbed the scratched off scab on my chest" is correct
(which is what I get from looking up the meaning of {{JP:よう}} ) then I'm
stumped. Could anyone illuminate it for me please?

> 「どうなってんの？」「何だよ、これ」
>
> まったくだ。何だよ、これ。なんでこんな場所に。なんで？ いつから？
>
> かきむしる **ように** 胸を押さえる。




> かきむしる **ように** 胸を押さえる

It means "(I) press (my) chest **as if / like** scratching it".

The ように here means "as if / like". Similar to みたいに / まるで～ように / ～かのように.




> かきむしる **ように** 胸を押さえる

It means "(I) press (my) chest **as if / like** scratching it".

The ように here means "as if / like". Similar to みたいに / まるで～ように / ～かのように.

