The Power of Metaphor
The concepts that govern our thought are not just
matters of the intellect. They also govern our everyday
functioning, down to the most mundane details. Our
concepts structure what we perceive, how we get around
in the world, and how we relate to other people.
Our conceptual system thus plays a central role in
defining our everyday realities. If we are right
in suggesting that our conceptual system is largely
metaphorical, then the way we think, what we experience,
and what we do every day is very much a matter of
metaphor.
— Metaphors
We Live By,
George
Lakoff and Mark Johnson, pg. 3
In these tragic times when we feel that we have
lost control of our destiny, we may reflect on the
signs that we chose to ignore. So far, the defining
metaphor of the twenty-first century was the attack
on and collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade
Center. I do not know if Osama Bin Laden was genius
enough to have foreseen the attack as a metaphor
for what was to happen to the United States and the
global economy in the decade following the attack,
but surely with hindsight, one can say that the pillars
of our economic power have collapsed. Perhaps he
was just aware of the pride and character flaws in
the Bush administration and the selfish underpinnings
of the world financial markets. Perhaps he understood
the psychology of hubris in his enemies and realized
that with a well-placed attack, the enemy would self-destruct.
Depending on how one conceptualized the attacks
of 9-11 there were several messages to which one
could respond. Our collective shock, indignation
and grief made most people and our leaders respond
in anger and thus largely ignore some important lessons.
A few individuals and groups, however, perceived
the lessons defined by the metaphor of the attacks.
The salient lessons also were attacks on our pride.
One was the question: What had the United States
done in the past to deserve such hatred that caused
such attacks? The second was: Are the foundations
of our consumer economy really on solid ground, meeting
global needs and thereby sustainable? Those who eloquently
described the lessons, such as Barbara Kingsolver
in her book of essays, Small Wonder, were
viewing the event as a metaphor in a global and timeless
perspective, as a wake-up call for a great nation
with great potential for good. They also wanted us
to heal by taking actions that would express our
true core values. She and others like her were severely
criticized in the patriotic fervor that followed
that day of destruction and grief. The wisdom of
their voices was suppressed. As a nation we failed
to heed the warnings and the opportunities that event
offered. Instead, we followed our pride into the
abyss.
Metaphors are not for hindsight,
but for foresight — for
a clearer vision of the future. Thus, if we interpret
the second most powerful metaphor of the twenty-first
century, the election of Barack Obama, we see revealed
a promising future. That election as a metaphor filled
with amazing symbolism may be a potent source for
psychological renewal. America collectively passed
a threshold of fear by electing a leader of such
a background with such a name. The symbolism of that
election was like an open door taken to escape the
pursuit of the unfolding global nightmare: the ethnic
and religious wars, the terrorism and fratricide,
the global warming and failing economies. We must
not simply dwell on the relative success or failure
in cleaning up the mess we inherited, but we must
also clearly see that as a nation we are ready to
face the future. The power of the Obama metaphor
is that, as a nation, we passed a major test. As
a nation some healing force was experienced.
Metaphor is not just a convention
of creative language. It is a way of looking at
the layers that make our daily experience, or of
looking at world events that impact our lives and
perhaps foreshadow the future. In ancient Greece
people consulted oracles before making decisions,
or consulted “seers” to
interpret the signs that may indicate appropriate
actions to take. The metaphor is a way of framing
the symbolism that reveals hidden, subjective or
psychological dimensions of events. Metaphor
is the language of meaning, and the meaning of language
communicated by images and the interplay of the circumstances
that are the setting of events or concepts.
The essence of personal empowerment is to make informed
decisions in full awareness of likely future consequences
even if those consequences are not necessarily what
one desires. Seeing the metaphors in our life reveals
different points of view that may yield a fresh or
broader perspective. For the Greeks the greatest
character flaw was hubris. Hubris is the
sin of pride that precipitates the downfall of the
hero, and produces tragedy. Hubris is ignoring the
signs because they are contrary to one’s desires
or one’s image. One’s “image” is
often tunnel vision built by pride. With pride one
imagines that one is above social and natural controls
and consequences, however, this imagined sense of “power” runs
contrary to real empowerment.
If people were more adept at understanding the hidden
meanings of the metaphors that they encounter in
their everyday lives, they might change their perceptions
and behavior or make choices that were more in tune
with reality. Seeing events not just in a material
way, that is, just a physical occurrence in time
and space, would make people more perceptive and
sensitive to the lessons that events are trying to
communicate. This would develop insight and would
improve actions and relationships.
© 2009
Richard V. Sidy
