Ghost of a Chance figurative language body paragraph

     In Ghost of a Chance, the poet utilizes an extended simile to emphasize the discomfort of a man who allows himself to think outside of his comfort zone. In the poem, the speaker is watching a man deep in thoughts which may go against what society deems to be ‘right’. Suddenly, the man stops his independent thoughts as he slips back into his “old consolations” (8) which are compared to “a fish / half-dead from flopping” (10-11). This simile is extended further into the poem as the poet describes the fish, or the man’s thought, in the “agonizing / air” (15-16). However, this thought finally finds relief in the “triumphant / sea” (18-19). Air and sea are both personified within this poem. Air connotes freedom, and the fact that the air causes the ‘fish’ pain figuratively means these independent thoughts the man is happening are not comfortable in their particular setting. They may go against what society believes in, and therefore the man is scared that he is having these thoughts. These thoughts eventually end up in the ‘triumphant sea’. The sea represents society and the thoughts and ideas held by the general public. Since the sea is triumphant, it feels accomplished for keeping one of its own from achieving a higher state of intellect. A fish belongs in the sea, just like a man’s thoughts should belong to the ideals held by the society he lives in, or so the society believes. All in all, the figurative language used within the poem displays that no matter how hard a man tries to attain ideals greater than society he will always go back to his old ways where he is most comfortable.