In this poem Marge Piercy’s speaker evokes a concrete vision of a woman who has lost her personal identity to her job. Her bold and descriptive use of metaphors allow the reader to envision a woman who is living her life vicariously through her career. Ms. Piercy successfully uses paradox, personification, and the pun to bring the character alive. With the use of metaphors, both implied and explicit, the reader can deeply empathize with …showed first 75 words of 729 total…

…showed last 75 words of 729 total…useless. The writers metaphors are drawn from everday activities seen in every office. Through the use of explicit metaphors describing a secretary as piece of office equipment the poem has created a fully developed picture of how little value we place on humanity in the work place. By using the full range and depth of rhetorical figures, Ms. Piercy has given fresh insights into the average work day of women who provide vital administrative assistance.