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(Literary Devices in Suicide, watch)

in the short story "Suicide, Watch," Nafissa Thompson-Spires explores the relationship between identity and the digital world. Through her use of symbolism, irony, and vivid imagery, she illustrates how societal expectations shaped by online culture can distort personal identity and lead to emotional confusion having

The purpose of this blog is to analyze how Thompson-Spires uses literary techniques to expose the emotional and internal effects of identity struggles. By exploring the use of symbolism, irony, and imagery, I aim to show readers how they can reflect on their own identity, as well as the illusion of an Online persona causing real life issues that impact mental health, relationships and careers. People are most affected when they don’t have a sense of identity, and Thomspon-Spires work highlights the deep consequences of this struggle.    

Each section will explore how spires literary devices of symbolism, irony, and imagery, reveals how online personas can intensify identity struggles leading to emotional distress and disconnection from reality. In the end, I hope to encourage readers to reflect on their own sense of identity and how do they present themselves when being watched.

( Symbolism and online persona)

In the story "Suicide, Watch” Thompson-Spires uses symbolism to illustrate how the pressure of creating and maintaining an idealized online persona can deepen identity struggles and emotional disconnection, ultimately affecting one’s real life and social relationships.  

This idea is important as it shows how Jilly becomes obsessed with how she is viewed online. Her actions reflect how social media can twist a person’s perspective on reality and pressure individuals to create new versions of themselves that don’t express their identity. This reflects how people may begin to see themselves through the lens of their online persona, hiding under a mask to avoid the pain rather than being their authentic self.  

An example of symbolism being used is when Jilly posts her poem “but waits a few hours or so before checking for likes and comments, she did this, so she didn’t look desperate.” When Jilly thinks about the “likes” it means more than just likes on a post they symbolize her desire for acceptance, belonging, and empathy. “She didn’t know how to interpret the likes on her poem” symbolizes Jilly’s emotional weakness for online validation. This connects directly to the thesis by showing how online personas can intensify emotional struggles, especially when someone sees social media approval the same their personal worth.  

(The Irony of online connection)

Thompson-Spires uses irony to show how chasing online validation can create a false sense of identity and connection while adding to the feeling of isolation and disconnection from reality. Jilly’s desire to be seen and valued online leads her to perform a new version of herself, the feeling of wanting to feel understood backfires as she becomes more broken and alone. The irony that lies in this is the fact that these platforms are designed to bring people together as a community, but it often leaves individuals feeling more alone than ever.  

In a society where social media replaces face-to-face interaction, the theme in the story “Suicide, Watch” reflects a general cultural issue on how people can appear socially fulfilled online while privately struggling with identity and insecurity. Through her use of irony, Thompson-Spires exposes the emotional harm of relying on digital validation and staged identity as a substitute for authentic connection and self-worth.  

For an example in the story, Jilly posts a “TBT” and a link to a YouTube video of “Dead and Gone” she does this to remove the pressure life has on her. The line “Fourteen likes, no comments she didn't know how to read this” symbolizes Jilly’s confusion and emotional weakness regarding her online interactions. The “likes” to suggest some level of validation, but the absence of comments leaves her feeling unsatisfied with the empty feeling of engagement and support from her online community.  

Thompson-Spires uses this irony to help readers reflect on how much of their own sense of identity and emotional well-being depends on social media approval. The example used is significant because it reveals a sense of reality behind the pain social media brings in today’s digital culture. When people do receive online attention, such as likes and comments, it lacks the depth and empathy needed to fulfill the feeling of loneliness.  

(Imagery and emotional fragmentation)

Thompson-Spires uses vivid imagery to reveal Jilly’s emotional state, showing how her new online appearance masks deep internal struggles with identity and self-worth. While Jilly appears well put together on the outside, the maintained image is a growing sense of emptiness and disconnection. Her “near perfections” are not a reflection of confidence but a defense mechanism, an attempt to control how others perceive her in a world that constantly demands perfection. The difference between her perfect appearance and lack of understanding herself highlights the emotional cost of maintaining an identity built for public approval rather than personal truth.

 Living in an online world obsessing with your appearances reflects social media perfection, the imagery reflects the tension between outward image and inner reality. For example, “What did she have to show for her life, other than near perfections of her appearance?” This line shows how imagery is used to emphasize the emptiness of Jilly’s online persona. Her “near perfections” symbolizes the new identity she has created, which contrasts with her internal emptiness and lack of genuine fulfillment. Jilly’s experiences highlight the pressure to appear perfect, even when it conflicts with true feelings and identity. This supports the thesis by illustrating how pressure of creating a false identity can deepen emotional struggles and disconnect individuals from their true selves.  

(Confronting the Cost of Online Identity)

In “Suicide, Watch,” Nafissa Thompson-Spires uses symbolism, irony, and imagery to show how the pressure of online personas can twist the understanding of identity leading to an increase in emotional distress, disconnecting individuals from reality in a way of hiding their identities so the feeling of acceptances isn't so hard. 

(Behind the screen)

Thompson-Spires challenges us to reflect on the version of ourselves we present online and what emotional impact may come with keeping up with that image. How much of our identity is truly our own, and how much is it shaped by online approval? As social media continues to misdirect the lines between real life and online identity, we as readers are left to ask, how do we present ourselves online when no one is watching? Who is the person behind the screen?