AIDS and Its Metaphors

Susan Sontag's AIDS and Its Metaphors (1989) examines how the disease was discussed and understood in society, particularly in contrast to her earlier work, Illness as Metaphor. Sontag argued that AIDS was often described using militaristic and moralistic language, which she found unhelpful and damaging.1

The book critiques the tendency to frame illnesses, especially those with social stigma, as metaphors for moral failings or as an enemy to be fought. Sontag's work highlights the social, cultural, and linguistic aspects surrounding AIDS, rather than focusing on its medical or scientific details. She aimed to deconstruct the metaphorical language used to describe the disease, advocating for a more rational and less stigmatizing approach.12