Analysis Of George Saunders's In Persuasion Nation

While reading George Saunders’ Short story collection, In Persuasion Nation, it is easy to see that Saunders is using literary fiction with a hint of science fiction to convey a central message in each of his short stories. Saunders offers us a glimpse into a possible sad and scary future. Saunders’ loony characters play a huge role in the final production of a meaningful message. The protagonist is often the most morally sound of the characters, so this gives the reader a closer connection with them. Another factor in determining the way Saunders’ message is conveyed is the ridiculous unpredictableness of the plot. While the reader understands the message it makes it seem less scary or serious when the moral of the story is coated with humor. The use of outlandish story elements show the use of science fiction in his stories, but each story serves an intricate subject and this fundamentally shows Saunders’ rhetorical meaning. In Saunders’ short stories, Jon and My Flamboyant Grandson, the protagonists are well-developed characters that are easily relatable. The way Saunders separates the relation between reader and character is by placing them in the possible future. Because they live in an alternate universe these characters are also somewhat of an unreliable source for information; we cannot truly grasp what is happening in their minds. Saunders characterizes his protagonists as having better morals and a more clear thought process than the supporting characters by the way these characters either think, speak, or act.

Saunders’ takes advantage of the fears of the reader by setting his stories in a dystopian environment. Saunders use of the dystopian atmosphere allures the reader because of the American fear of an ...

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...the choice for what they want. George Saunders creates a dystopian world in his collection of short stories. The general message is the persuasion of people in an era of consumerism. What’s ironic is that this is a world where most people are not even aware that they are being persuaded, but are happily integrated into the dystopian environment. The setting Saunders gives us is set in America and could be easily applied to our country or any country for that fact. Saunders is highly effective in his use of a dystopian setting, complex characters, and his character’s modest diction to accentuate the problems in today’s materialistic society. Saunders succinctly informs that audience on the issues, but the audience ultimately decides whether or not the issue will be solved. Saunders is only the messenger and the reader is the one who should act on his message.