Analysis Of Joan Didion's Essay

If there is one thing to be said for Joan Didion, it is that she is by no means a conventional author. Using a combination of descriptive evidence, well placed commentary, an eloquent combination of Logos and Pathos, and a dynamic tone, Didion forms a very unique structure within her essays, which she uses to persuade her audience on a given subject.

Beginning her essays with overwhelming description, Didion applies a combination of Logos and Pathos in order to steer her readers towards her opinion which is later on expressed within the given essay, such as “California Dreaming” and “Marrying Absurd”. By presenting her description as evidence before she explicitly states her opinion, Didion appears to be unbiased while simultaneously providing

specific points which she uses later to support her argument. Utilizing a Logos presentation of evidence, which favors her argument, she allows the reader to form an opinion, even if only a vague one, which she then re-enforces in later paragraphs through passionate language and fierce commentary. Through this unique method of Logos followed by Pathos, Didion’s writing forms well rooted thoughts among her audience to support her purpose.
However, Didion’s rhetorical use of structure extends far beyond the beginning of her essays.

Forging deeper into Didion’s text, one finds that Didion continues to build on the foundations laid in the beginnings of her essays, layering greater and richer description on her examples and subtlely sliding in quick snippets of commentary, once again provoking the audience with both Pathos and Logos. Didion includes a great deal of evidence, which she then glues together with slivers of commentary, maintaining a focus on evidence and her unbiased persona. Climbing further into the essay, however, Didion switches her focus from an implicit argument, debated through description and other evidence, to a more explicit, commentary based system of persuasion. This method is designed to plant a seed of opinion in the reader’s head by presenting them with evidence, and building more and more commentary, feeding that idea until they are as passionate about her subject as she is. An excellent example of this can be found in “Where the Kissing Never Stops” when Didion morphs her, mostly, straightforward account of the meeting in the Monterey county courthouse, to a vivid use of visual imagery, in which she outlines Miss Joan Beaz, an “extraordinary looking

lady”.
Going hand-in-hand with her description, Didion summons a very distinct, yet dynamic tone in her writing. Often ironic, Didion’s tone helps define the direction of her essay. Implicitly leading her audience to her view on the essay’s topic, Didion utilizes tone changes to begin her transition from Logos to Pathos by commenting on different subjects within her essay with different levels of tonal implication. By changing her tone throughout her essay, Didion inspires varying feelings among her audience, which reaffirms the audience’s opinion as Didion begins to utilize more commentary and moves away from description. This use of tone provides a stronger rhetorical use to Didion’s structural transition, ultimately strengthening the entirety of her essay.
Didion’s mixture of these elements creates a truly unique style unmatched by other authors. Her descriptive evidence, paired with her commentary and use of tone, intensify the effect of Logos and Pathos on her readers, and to support her argument in a way which sets Didion apart.