Analysis Of Savages By Carol Edgarian

Savages
In the non- fiction essay Savages author Carol Edgarian describes the relationship between herself and her two siblings from adolescence until adulthood. Edgarian writes a very descriptive informal essay about the ups and downs, in and outs of life, that draws the reader in and takes them back to reminiscing about childhood. The key symbols represented in this passage are the bond between siblings and how they behaved as “savages,” but also allies whom knew each other inside and out.
The word “savage” can have multiple meanings. When Edgarian is describing her experiences with her brother and sister she also uses the term barbaric. This leads the reader to believe the children and wild and crazy. Edgarian states “being left alone by adults to be our fully barbaric selves, we also had a great deal of fun and mischief.” (Edgarian) In this day and age one might wonder where are the children’s parents? But the author leads the reader to believe that the children were left alone to keep themselves entertained and to take care of one another and stay out of trouble. Parents seemingly were not as worried about their children as they are today, and did not

feel the need to keep in contact with them twenty four hours a day. When the author was growing up children did not have video games or a computer to keep them entertained, they needed to find something active outside to do.
The siblings often battled each other in the backyard playing “war.” The author writes, “We hunted and killed each other.

We knew everything necessary to vanquish each other as prey because on a molecular level we understood how each other thought.” (Edgarian) While the author likens the children to understand each other on a molecular level, it appears that they have studied each other enough to know what makes each other tick. Edgarian had built such a strong bond with her brother and sister they no longer needed to really talk to communicate. Edgarian explains, “We didn’t talk a lot. We knew each other so well, it wasn’t necessary. And when we did talk, it was in shorthand.” (Edgarian) Talking in shorthand gives the reader the idea that the siblings have created a language that only they can

understand.
In conclusion, the author has brought two comparisons to the attention of the reader in a subtle manner. First, is her comparison of how parenting has changed since she was a child. In today’s standards and parenting, children are not allowed to behave in the same way they could have forty years ago. Parents want to hover over their children, possibly preventing them from exposure to the real world. Second, there is an underlying tone to the passage that the author feels, because of her experiences with her “savage” siblings, have impacted the relationship and bond they have today. Had they not experienced all of these memories together, the special bond they have might be much different than it is currently.