The reflective tone of "If I could start again" suggests a sense of regret or a wish to undo past actions. The speaker reflects on his own experiences and contemplates what he would have done if he "could start again".

The symbolism of "liar's chair" represents the deciet of the speaker, leading to regret and emotional turmoil. The use of the term "chair" is a further play on the juxtaposition of the previous line as a throne is usually signifying power and prestige, something people look up to. Yet the word "liar's" implies that everything they are or pretending to be is false.

The metaphor “crown of thorns” turns the crown, traditionally representing royalty and power, into a symbol of anguish and suffering through the addition of the word "thorns". The word "thorns" introduces a contrast to the visual imagery of a crown, introducing a sense of pain and adversity. From this, I can infer that the speaker finds his power and authority a painful burden and that the metaphor is an expression of the speaker's internal struggles and an emphasis on his remorse from the previous stanza.

The repitition of "I will" conveys a sense of internal struggle with the speaker. It conveys a strong sense of inevitability, as if the speaker is convinced that they will indeed let the listener down and cause them pain, yet revealing a sense of remorse.

From the visual imagery of “try to kill it”, or to eradicate his monster of regrets “all away”, I can infer that the speaker is grappling with an inner struggle. It suggest a desperate attempt to free himself from the burdens of the past. This evokes empathy in me as the feelings of inner conflict and vulnerability resonates with me.

The visual imagery of "I hurt myself" and the repitition of "hurt" throughout the song empasises the pain that the speaker feels being at the lowest point of his life. He then sings about the pain being the only real thing further validating him not seeing a point in anything, and the only thing making him feel alive is the pain of self hurt and emotional pain. Thus, he focuses "on the pain", although he cannot make the past go away, or deaden the memories. The assonance of the "o" sound in "focus" and "only" emphasises the assertion that pain is "the only thing that's real", although it is normally viewed as negative. This shows the speaker's difficult situation and how he is forced to use pain as a coping mechanism.

From the metaphor of "stains of time" , the word "stains" refer to the lasting impacts of his memories and his challenges in life over "time", filled with regret and hatred while the word "beneath" implies that something else lies underneath or is obscured by his "stains". The use of this word suggests that there are still emotions and something foundational within the speaker. We can reflect on the theme of loss, its lasting impact on us and the emotional weight of losing. It encourages us to cherish what we have now because nothing lasts forever.

REGRET: When one faces regret, they should find something to learn from it and to move on and grow as a person. ISOLATION: Isolation needs to be acknowledged in order to take positive steps in the right direction. ACCEPTANCE: While it is difficult to accept a loss, it is important for us to move on from it.

The underlying message of "Hurt"

"Hurt" explores pain, regret, and the enduring impact of personal experiences on one's memories. The speaker shows a deep emotional turmoil with vivid imagery. Despite the struggle, the speaker has a resolute commitment and determination for acceptance, showing how regret and remorse can be overcome.

The repitition of "I would" and the resolute tone emphasises the speaker's determination in his acceptance of his wrongdoings. The word "keep" implies the choice made by the speaker to take better care of himself and his actions while the word "I would" shows the reader that the speaker has accepted his mortality and that he is taking ownership for his regrets and wrongdoings.

The alliteration and hyperbole of "A million miles" emphasises the speaker's desire and yearning for a second chance in life now that he has figured out what he had done wrong. The word "away" implies the speaker's need for detachment and the seeking of a new beginning. From this line, I feel a sense of sorrow for the speaker as he at last understands and accepts his mortality without the need for self-hurt.

The juxtaposition of these two lines suggests a sense of being left behind. The melancholic tone first line implies that the character "you" has undergone a shift in personality or identity, leading the speaker to perceive them as different from the person they once knew. The second line implies that the speaker had been abandnd by "you" with the phrase "still right here".

The line shows the speaker's inability to repair the "broken thoughts" in his mind, showing helplessness and how irreparable his struggles are.

The metaphor depicts the speaker's mental state as shattered and displays to the reader his fragmented memories of regret and despair. The word "thoughts" refer to his remorse for everything he has done wrong while "broken" refers to the overwhelming state of disorder he is put through.

The juxtaposition of "sweetest friend" with the somber tone of the rest fo the song adds emotional depth to the relationship being described. It conveys a sese of familiarity and closeness. This bittersweet line evokes in me a wistful longing for the speaker as it suggests endearment, yet has a somber tone. I reflect on the theme of relationships and how good relationships never break even at the worst of times.

The personification used in "The feelings disappear" suggests the speaker's emotional numbness and desensitization. It shows how his past experiences have affected his emotions and his relationships negatively. It also shows how they have detatched from the intensity of emotions and the ability to connect with and fully experience feelings. This line evokes pity in me for the speaker as he isfeeling the emotional numbness only at the end of his life and is helpless in correcting his mistakes.

From the metaphor of “empire of dirt” for the speaker's life deroid of value, I can infer that the speaker, despite having seemingly endless amounts of influence and power, deems it all insignificant compred to the second chance in life that he yearns for. The metaphor also suggests the speaker's sense emptiness and desolation in themselves as the term "empire", which connotes success and power, is directly compared to "dirt", suggesting insignificance. The juxtaposition between the two terms emphasises the hollow life of the speaker that cannot be filled with accomplishments alone. However, when paired with "you could have it all", it introduces a contrast. the irony between the two lines lie in the willingness to give "it all" followed by the description of it being an "empire of dirt". It becomes an admission of the speaker's shortcomings and vulnerability, the imagery of an empire in "you could have it all" turned into "dirt"

The metaphor of "it all" goes beyond just literal possesions and the speaker's "empire of dirt" and perhaps metaphorically refers to experiences or emotions. "you could have it" shows the speaker's willingness to sacrifice or surrender everything. However, the meaning of this line changes with the following lines.

This line suggests a sense of finality and inevitability. I can reflect on the theme of mortality. It encourages me to contemplate the legacy I leave behind and the questions that arise about what happens after our inevitable conclusion.

The rhetorical question is the speaker's reflection on the regrets of his life, directed to his "sweetest friend"

The visual imagery tells us that the speaker has become a monster that no one dares to acquaint with

The juxtaposition between trying to eradicate his memories of regret yet still remembering “everything” shows that no matter how far the speaker pushes away the regrets, it will not leave his memories as they are a constant, overwhelming reminder of his mistakes despite his efforts to “kill it”

The symbolism of “The needle”, associated with the emotional numbness the speaker feels after countless stabs, and the visual imagery of “tears a hole” shows the destructive impact of the drastic measures the speaker takes to cope with his regret in life.

The tactile imagery of “familiar sting” Implies the speaker's addiction to the pain of the needle and the emotional numbness it brings, a way of coping with his regret.