Metaphor

As the question of whether or not metaphors can be designed is posed, I was intrigued. We generally view metaphors as something to add image to writing, which is outlined at the end of the first paragraph of the essay. This is an angle that I have never thought about before. The first two metaphors that are introduced (from Dante and Rilke) are not meant to cause any large reaction, but simply to look at one thing (life, time) as another (a road, a destroyer). Even though I viewed metaphors as a simple comparison, these two are a good example of how comparison can turn something positive or negative. I have thought about metaphors as a simple tool without a purpose outside of writing for a long time. In the second paragraph, when the writer reveals that he worked as an actual “metaphor designer”, my interest was sparked. I had never thought about how a metaphor could be used in a business setting, even though I guess they have been under my nose this entire time. I started to think about different slogans that are metaphors in disguise, and how these slogans have had a direct effect on how I view the company or organization that they represent. This piece, no matter how short it is, has opened my eyes about the many uses of the metaphor outside the literary world alone.