Illness as Metaphor in Contemporary Autobiographies: A Theoretical Exploration

Abstract

This paper examines the use of illness as a metaphor in contemporary autobiographies, highlighting how illness serves as a narrative and symbolic framework for understanding individual identity, societal structures, and existential crises. Drawing on the works of Susan Sontag, particularly her seminal book Illness as Metaphor (1978), this paper explores how the metaphor of illness is employed by authors to convey personal, social, and political messages. Autobiographies such as The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi offer compelling narratives where illness becomes a central figure in the process of self- representation and meaning-making. Through this analysis, we aim to demonstrate how illness in autobiographical writing transcends the physical experience, becoming a vehicle for broader metaphorical reflection.