"A Coney Island Life":Literary Analysis

Many people live their lives as if there is always a tomorrow. When will they come to the realization that life is too short to take for granted. In “A Coney Island Life” by James L. Weil, he compares life’s opportunities to popular attractions at amusement parks. Weil uses Coney Island as a metaphor to convince the reader to make the best out of their life with no regrets.

The poem shows that life may have its struggles but when you work hard you will be rewarded for it. Just like in the poem, “on roller coaster ups and downs”, it also means that you will encounter unsteady roads, but all will be over when you finally come to a stop. In life, when you put the effort you will be rewarded for it. In the poem it states, “now arms filled with dolls I threw so much for”. After you have continuously been trying to knock over the pins, you are rewarded with a plush when you finally do. Even though some things make you want to give up and pull your hair out there is always a happy ending when you succeed.

This poem tries to use amusement park rides as a comparison to living life to fullest before your chances are all gone. It mentions, “I take perhaps my last ride”, meaning that you don’t know when the next opportunity is for you to accomplish something before your time is up. Some amusement parks are only there for a limited amount of time before it is gone until the next annual event. Weil also states, “how many more times round I have to catch that brass-ring-sun before the game is up.” Life can move so fast sometimes you won’t realize how much time you have wasted. There are so many things you want to achieve in a lifetime that each day must be a step towards that goal. If not, with a blink of an eye it is all over.

Weil uses Coney Island as a metaphor to convince the reader to live everyday a little more risky with the idea that there might not always be a tomorrow. We end up realizing how precious every minute really is.