Sontag - ENG103

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University of Toronto *

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103

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Arts Humanities

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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Sontag - Illness as Metaphor Introduction Analysis – Page 3 1. Dual Citizenship in the Kingdoms of Well and Sick:  Metaphor: Illness is compared to dual citizenship, with individuals being citizens in both the "kingdom of the well" and the "kingdom of the sick."  Significance: This metaphor highlights the idea that everyone is vulnerable to illness at some point in their lives, transitioning from a state of health to a state of illness. 2. The Good Passport vs. the Other Place:  Metaphor: The "good passport" represents a state of health, while the "other place" symbolizes illness.  Significance: This metaphor emphasizes society's preference for health and the desire to avoid acknowledging illness. It suggests that individuals often try to distance themselves from the reality of illness until they are directly confronted with it. 3. Emigrating to the Kingdom of the Ill:  Metaphor: The act of falling ill is likened to emigrating to a different country.  Significance: This metaphor portrays illness as a foreign and unfamiliar land that individuals must navigate, often with uncertainty and fear. 4. Punitive or Sentimental Fantasies:  Metaphor: The author discusses the "punitive or sentimental fantasies" that people associate with illness.  Significance: This highlights how society often attaches moral judgments or romanticized notions to illness, which can lead to stigmatization or overly dramatic perceptions of the experience. 5. Illness as Metaphor vs. Real Geography:  Metaphor: Sontag differentiates between the metaphorical understanding of illness and its actual physical reality.  Significance: This distinction underscores the main point of the essay: that illness should not be reduced to mere metaphors and that a more honest and realistic perspective on illness is needed. 6. Metaphoric Thinking and the Kingdom of the Ill:  Metaphor: The author criticizes the prevalence of metaphoric thinking about illness.  Significance: Sontag argues that the use of metaphors can lead to misinterpretations and misunderstandings of illness. She advocates for a more direct and truthful approach to understanding and dealing with illness. 7. Liberation from Metaphors:

 Metaphor: The passage suggests the need for liberation from the metaphors associated with illness.  Significance: The author's goal is to encourage a more honest and compassionate approach to illness, free from the biases and misconceptions created by metaphors. In this passage, the metaphor of citizenship serves to illustrate the dual nature of human existence, where individuals must confront the reality of illness, even though society often prefers to romanticize or stigmatize it through metaphorical thinking. Sontag's essay challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of illness and to view it in a more truthful and compassionate light.

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