Eric Emilcar
Caitlin Geoghan
FIQWS 10113
12/3/19
The Dilemma of the Metaphor
Metaphors are key tools used to understand our complex world. They are typically defined as words or phrases that make a comparison between two unrelated things. As a form of figurative language, metaphors are capable of painting an image for an intended audience. Thus the concept being conveyed is easier to grasp. Although metaphors are useful in understanding language, its unintended effect continues to be discreet. Metaphors become a double-edged sword because they are open to interpretation. On one hand, it can aid in conceptualizing an idea, but on the other it can shape our perception of an idea. By likening a vaccination to getting shot, it is insinuated that the vaccination is being administered unwillingly and ultimately will cause harm. Similarly, the mere notion of “an invasion of illegal aliens” connotes a sense of fear due to the history associated with the term, invasion. In On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss and “An ‘invasion of illegal aliens’: The oldest immigration fear-mongering metaphor in America” by Meagan Flynn the meaning of these respective metaphors is expanded upon. Both authors exemplify the increasing popularity of incorporating violent language into our society.
On Immunity: An Inoculation documents the struggle Eula Biss went through as a new mother. As a new mother, she wanted her newborn to have good health, but she became doubtful of vaccinations. Hearing her friends’ stories about mishaps that occurred after the administration of vaccinations only further compounded her hesitation. Despite her secondhand experience of vaccination, Biss conducts her own research. This led her to eventually learning that vaccinations have a profound effect on the entire community.
The overall language used to describe vaccination is overtly negative. The benefits of vaccinations are negated by rarely dire outcomes. The metaphor that likens a vaccination to a shot only further supports this negative connotation. The first thing that comes to mind in relation to the word, ‘shot’, is a gun. Long story short, a gun is associated with pain, so when a vaccine is referred to as a ‘shot’, it is fair to believe that fear would be incited. In Biss’s case, it is understandable that she initially succumbed to the fear of vaccination because society painted it as such. The fear of being injected with a foreign substance is heightened by the comparison to a gunshot. The gun shot ejects a bullet that pierces anything it comes into contact with similar to how a vaccine punctures the skin of the recipient. This comparison creates a relationship in which both the gunshot and the vaccination cause harm. Vaccination is a concept of protection, but its metaphor obscured society’s perception of the truth. An appropriate metaphor that could replace ‘shot’ could be likening vaccination to “applying sunscreen before going to the beach.” The intent of vaccination is clearly outlined which is to protect you. This also creates a positive atmosphere in society’s perception of vaccination because the image of a beach is very bright.
In Meagan Flynn’s article, “An ‘invasion of illegal aliens’: The oldest immigration fear-mongering metaphor in America,” the usage of the invasion metaphor is detailed over the years. From the early 1880s to the present day, the metaphor has been used to increase negative attitudes toward people “who wish to come to the United States” (Flynn). The whole phrase dehumanizes immigrants with the terms, invasion and aliens. Immigrants are referred to as aliens to cultivate a hatred towards them even though at the end of the day they are humans. The term, alien, serves to undermine the aspect of humanity and ostracize immigrants from society. The term, invasion, paints this image of an army coming to wreak havoc on peace. The term, invasion, implies this “us vs them” mentality that exaggerates the differences between people, similar to that of the plot of a war movie. For example, the commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service referred to his situation as, “out-manned, under-budgeted, and confronted by a growing, silent invasion of illegal aliens” (Flynn) and reckoned that it would become a “natural disaster” (Flynn). Immigrants were referred to as aliens to suggest that they are inferior to Americans. Aliens are associated with an unwelcoming presence so the term creates a fear which later compounds into a hatred towards immigrants.
When comparing both stories, the authors highlight the common use of war terminology. In the case of Biss, the metaphor inaccurately portrayed the benefits of vaccination due to its link to the term, ‘shot’. Biss’s anecdote provided first hand experience of how the metaphor affected her. Flynn’s article, documented the use of war terminology to help conceptualize an idea albeit a prejudiced one. The main similarity between both metaphors is that they obscure the truth. Vaccination was viewed as detrimental while immigrants were made out to be feared as enemies. The war terminology created a negative connotation for both metaphors because it was associated with violence. Both metaphors increased the fear of the intended audience. The adoption of war terminology into figurative language serves to underline the insensitivity society has grown accustomed to.
On the whole, metaphors are used to convey ideas in an efficient way. The comparison between two things creates an image that builds a connection for the audience. The complexity of metaphors means that its effects often go unnoticed. As seen in the example of On Immunity: An Inoculation, the ‘shot’ metaphor illustrates vaccination as a danger to society when its purpose is the complete opposite. The violent connotation of the word ‘shot’ undermines the benefit of vaccination. In the case of Flynn’s article, an “invasion of illegal aliens” (Flynn) dehumanizes immigrants and isolates them from the general public. Both examples captivate the double-edged symbolism of metaphors; it conceptualizes an idea, but shapes the perception of reality.
Works Cited
Biss, Eula. On Immunity: An Inoculation. Graywolf Press, 2015
Flynn, Meagan. “An ‘Invasion of Illegal Aliens’: The Oldest Immigration Fear-Mongering Metaphor in America.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 2 Nov. 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/11/02/an-invasion-illegal-aliens-oldest-immigration-fear-mongering-metaphor-america/.
