Illness as Metaphor

Illness as Metaphor (Sontag book)

Illness as Metaphor is a work by Susan Sontag, published in 1978, that challenges the victim-blaming in the language often used to describe diseases and the people affected by them. Sontag argues that the metaphors and myths surrounding certain illnesses, like cancer and tuberculosis, can add to the suffering of patients by implying that their diseases are caused by personal psychological defects. The book is a significant contribution to the discourse on illness, society, and the cultural perceptions of disease.

Overview

In Illness as Metaphor, Sontag explores how throughout history, illnesses have been laden with metaphorical meanings, which are not only unscientific but also often damaging. She delves into the specific examples of tuberculosis (TB) in the 19th century and cancer in the 20th century, illustrating how these diseases have been romanticized or stigmatized. TB was often associated with artistic sensitivity and a refined, ethereal temperament, while cancer has been seen as a disease of repression and pent-up frustration, suggesting a patient's own emotional state could cause or exacerbate the disease. Sontag argues that such metaphors and myths surrounding diseases contribute to the stigmatization of patients, complicating their experience of illness.

Themes

The book covers several key themes, including:

• The impact of metaphorical language on patients' experiences of illness.
• The history of how diseases have been perceived and described in society.
• The relationship between illness, society, and language.
• The critique of the psychological theories that link personality traits or emotional states to the causation of diseases like cancer.

Critical Reception

Illness as Metaphor has been widely acclaimed for its insightful analysis of the language surrounding illness and its call for a more empathetic and less judgmental approach to understanding diseases. Critics have praised Sontag's clear prose and her ability to dissect complex cultural attitudes towards illness. The book has also sparked discussions in the fields of medical humanities and sociology about the power of language in shaping our perceptions of health and disease.

Legacy

Following the publication of Illness as Metaphor, Sontag continued to explore the relationship between illness, language, and society in her later work, AIDS and Its Metaphors (1989), extending her critique to the metaphors surrounding the AIDS epidemic. Her work has influenced a wide range of disciplines, including literary studies, sociology, psychology, and medical humanities, encouraging a more critical examination of the narratives we construct around illness.

See Also

• AIDS and Its Metaphors
• Medical humanities
• Stigma of illness
• Susan Sontag