Metaphors in life

In literature there are many devices that writers can use to convey messages. These literary devices however, are not only used in literature, they are also used in everyday life. Many people are aware of which literary device they are using. For example, if someone were to say “opportunity came knocking” then one would know that is an example of personification. One particular literary device that many people obliviously use would be the metaphor. Some metaphors have become so common in our everyday language that many people don’t realize there is any type of comparison. Writing this essay is a waste of my very valuable time- this is something that some university students may say, to convey the message that there is something better they could be doing with their time. Others may say that writing essays is an excellent way of spending their time. Whichever phrase you choose to use, you will be comparing time and money. In the society we live in, time is money and many people do not realize how often we compare the two. Society invests time, spends time, wastes time, and earns time (Lakoff and Johnson.) Time is compared to money because they have similar qualities. Money is a thing, and when you use it, you cannot get it back. Time is a concept, which follows the same basic rules. Unless you were to invent a time machine, you cannot “retrieve” time. Concepts are difficult to explain, which is why we often relate concepts to actual things, which we use and speak of everyday. In this case, money is the easiest thing to compare it to because in the society we live in, where every second of every day is scheduled, time goes by much quicker than you expect. One way that many of us “spend” our time is in relationships. In relationships, when speaking about love, we often use different metaphors to explain what love really is. Love is a feeling, much like time, which is often hard to explain, therefore it is much more easily interpreted through comparison. “Love