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The value of narrative essay
Narrative writing vs descriptive writing
The value of narrative essay
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The two essays, “I want a wife” (Brady, 1971) and “Homeless” (Quindlen, n.d.) both resonate with readers on different levels. This essay will compare and contrast the narrative and descriptive essay forms and argue that although “I want a wife” uses humor in an effective narrative style, the imagery used in “Homeless” evokes more powerful feelings in the reader regarding stability and belonging making it a more compelling essay.
Judy Brady’s narrative style in “I want a wife” uses sarcasm quite effectively to portray her personal experience as a wife. She graphically details the conventional marital division of labor while subtly highlighting the inequities. However disparate these spousal duties seem to be, they form a nearly universal representation of a traditional household. Brady enumerates all the elements of a working household: the cooking, cleaning, organizing, scheduling and nurturing of family. She clearly implies that without a wife, the household would cease to function. Also, that the very label of “wife” brings with it all the duties and responsibilities listed.
Throughout the essay, only action words are used in relation to the wife; in fact, it is as if the word “wife” were actually a verb instead of a noun. The home described by Brady is comprised of activity alone. The sum of these activities creates the home. The wife embodies the duties, ergo, the wife is the home. As Brady says, “who wouldn’t want a wife?”
In the descriptive essay “Homeless”, Anna Quindlen relies on common history instead of humor to engage her audience. Her vivid depiction of what being without a home means plays a symphony of emotions in the reader. In “Homeless”, it is the tangible items that that prove w...
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...r hand, “Homeless” employs vivid imagery, universal desires and not so secret fears to strike a chord we all recognize. By definition, the narrative essay is a retelling of an event or experience whereas a descriptive essay draws on detailed imagery to forge a connection with the subject matter. The careful use of language and symbolism in descriptive writing serves to quickly engage the reader in the topic. In contrast, narration can feel impersonal which allows the reader to remain disengaged. For these reasons, “Homeless” is the more compelling essay and the descriptive essay is far superior to narration.
Works Cited
Brady, J. (1971). I want a wife. Retrieved from http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/everythingsanargument4e/content/cat_020/Brady_I_Want_a_Wife.pdf
Quindlen, A. (n.d.). Homeless. Retrieved from http://pers.dadeschools.net/prodev/homelesstext.htm
In America the topic of homelessness is one that is rarely discussed. The ongoing issues faced by the less fortunate of society continues to be viewed as a public nuisance versus a problem that is in need of viable solutions. John Grisham’s “Somewhere for Everyone” and “Same Kind of Different as Me” written by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, Lynn Vincent explores the issues from various viewpoints. The two books are more of similarity than that of difference since they discuss similar themes Poverty and suffrage are key elements of both pieces of literature. A root cause for homelessness is financial stability so the theme of poverty prevalent for this discussion.
In class there have been many discussions over the relationships and marriages among the books we have read. When someone thinks of marriage, a fairy tale with a happy ending might come to mind, or possibly a safe haven for those looking for something stable. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, marriage takes a turn for the worse. Marriage is no longer the happy memories in a lifetime. It can be the thing that hinders the women in these stories from developing their full potential or experiencing the world and other lifestyles. Through these texts and this time frame, we will analyze the meaning of their marriages, how they function, and the end result of both.
Statistically, over 670,000 Americans are homeless with a growing number. 48 million people go to bed hungry every night. Although we do provide shelters and opportunities in America, millions of people are homeless worldwide. Even on a more minor level there are still hundreds homeless within hometowns. Everyday we encounter the homeless whether by seeing them holding their personal signs at stoplights, confronts with beggars, or viewing them from afar under bridges. In her essay titled “On Compassion”, writer Barbara Ascher uses rhetorical techniques detailing some of her personal homeless experiences within the city life, Asher does effectively use logos, pathos,
Individuals often have their own perceptions and definitions of homelessness. These perceptions generally are over exaggerated. Over exaggerated definitions of what homelessness looks like can be explained by movies, TV shows, internet, and ev...
There are many other cases of why the homeless are homeless like domestic violence, mental illness, addictions, and unaffordable health care. Homelessness is a problem which has been caused by many different aspects but mainly money because of massive unemployment rates. A hidden aspect to homelessness that we may not think of is ...
“Homeless is more than being without a home. It is tied into education needs, food, security; health issues both mental and physical, employment issues, etc. Don’t forget the whole picture.” (“Boxed In” 2005 pg. 108)
The purpose of this paper is to present an outline for a paper on the critical analysis of the literature on the culture and space of homeless individuals to reveal the
The repetition of the phrase “I want a wife” in the essay reveals the desire of a man to have a wife because of the duties that they fulfill. This phrase highlights the importance of the duties such as cooking, having children, cleaning, and other domestic work and how a wife must complete all of them. The repetition of the word “I” is describing men as egocentric in which they are worried about themselves rather than their wife. The author sets a sarcastic tone in which she demands to have a wife, where in reality she is tired of being a wife herself. The incorporation of rhetorical questions such as, “Why do I want a wife?” (Brady) stated at the end of the first paragraph and “My God, who wouldn’t want a wife?” (Brady) helps create a sense of humor after describing and listing all the duties that women have to fulfill. The title “I Want a Wife” is an irony itself because it makes the reader feel that the author is a male since he is looking for a wife where in reality it is a wife whom is releasing her experience as a woman. Judy’s use of hyperbole makes it clear of unfairness that women continue to face. As Brady states, “I want a wife who will have the house clean, will prepare a special meal, serve it to me and my friends, and not interrupt…” (Brady) establishes how a wife is responsible for all the events that occur in a man’s life such as friends coming home, but is not
It’s shown satirically on television, made fun of in music, and joked about in day-to-day activities: being homeless. I don’t understand what’s so funny about being homeless. The struggle to stay alive in an uninviting climate with nothing but the clothes on your back, doesn’t seem very fun. Yet in the media, being homeless is still treated like a joke. In the essay “Homeless” by Anna Quindlen, the reader is shown what it truly means to be without a home. My view on the struggles that homeless people have to endure is very similar to that of Quindlen’s in her essay, which perfectly captured the reality of what it is like to be without a home, and what it truly means to be homeless; while simultaneously demonstrating to me the negative effect
Many authors try to capture the seriousness of being homeless. The similarities between Fly Away Home, and the poem "The First" are pronounced and deserve thorough investigation. This problem should not be ignored, as it is a serious problem though out the world. The authors are reminding us how important it is to help people in that situation.
She explains how wife's will do all the housework,take care of the children,Manage your food and doctor's visits. That having a wife allows one to pursue their own dreams and ideals because she will handle all the responsibilities. That wife's will put you and your children above anything else in the world even if it means they lose time from their job but that she will not lose her job. Basically going on and making this article kinda like a list of all the responsibilities that wives were expected to take care of and to do them well while trying to juggle their own lives in the mix.
One of the main times was in the opening statement of her paper. Brady states “I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am a wife. And, not altogether incidentally. I am a mother” (Brady 280).
Further into the paper, Brady structures a paragraph that focuses on the tasks a woman must execute for her husband's’ social needs. “I want a wife who takes care of the needs of my guests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d'oeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it,” (Brady). This sentence maintains a very “formal” tone by the use of phrases and words like, “their wine glasses are replenished” and “their coffee is served to them as they like it.” This sentences more however portray the role of a servant or waiter; anything but a wife. The complexity of this phrase is soon throughout the entire article to ultimately accentuate the absurd tasks and fulfillments a husband expects his wife to take
“Why I Want a Wife” by Judy Brady was published in 1972. It talks about the purpose one may desire a wife, and by the end, one cannot help but feel compelled to follow the author's beliefs. The article has a major recurring question, why do I want a wife? It’s simple, I want a wife to take care of me, my children, and my friends. I want a wife to listen to me without complaint, to keep track of the appointments. I want a wife to keep the house clean and easy to where I know where everything is. I want a wife who is willing to drop everything, even her job, to comfort and please me. I want a wife who is only mine, yet I can leave if I please. I want a wife to make sure I am satisfied. Brady wrote this in what I believe an attempt to humor the harsh reality of marriage, therefore I agree with her. Although “I Want a Wife”
In the reading’s of “Why I Want a Wife” by Judy Brady, (Essay #6) the author gives details on the reasons she would love to have a wife by her side. She gives explicit encounters on the labor detail job of a woman, from cooking, to cleaning, to ironing, to sexual interactions. Now, I do believe that as a wife, there are specifics that are wanted in a marriage, but nothing stated as a demand.