Without Language, There is no Purpose

We live in a world where language can be both a barrier and a link between people across

the world. An authors use of voice can force people to relate to a story despite their different

upcoming and backgrounds. In Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watch, Lewis Thomas is

able to express his purpose of comparing the lives of insects to humans by his use of metaphors,

hyperboles, and personification. While using literary devices, Parker allows his purpose to

become more evident and create more substance in his writing. The authors diction makes it

easier for readers to see the connection between the unlikely pairing between ants and humans.

With the authors use of metaphors, he is able to compare ants to the hustle and bustle of

the Atlantic streets. There is the same vibrating iconic movement interrupted by the darting

back and forth of jerky individuals to touch antennae and exchange small bits of

information(47). On the way to work, school, or the park people communicate and move fast

with the chaotic streets of the city. This is no different from the way ants move in packs while

delivering food to their homes. Despite how evident some of the comparisons may seem, some

people are offended by the assertion. The author even implies that humans feel too highly of

themselves and believe that the comparison is out of this world.

The language you incorporate into your literary piece can determine how your writing is

understood. For instance, the author of a mystery would use vague words and foreshadowing to

keep the reader interested. Thomas goes as far as personifying the ants to make them seem more

human. They formed themselves into long, black, ropy patterns; extended like writhing limbs,

hands, fingers, across the sand crescents(48). Using figurative language, the author pants an

image of a human body formed by the ants. The author also uses hyperbole to further prove his
point to his readers; for example, He is more like a ganglion on legs (49). He referring to the

body of ants moves freely without restrictions.

Lewis Thomas layered speech helps the reader grasp his main point that humans, are in

fact, very similar to ants. My mom always tells me, its not what you say, but how you say it; this

has a lot to do with the contents of a piece of writing and how the author expresses it.