Comparing The Works Of George Orwell, James Baldwin, And Joan Didion

People write without even realizing. Every step a person takes is another step towards securing a future. When the pen meets the paper a writer is making history, it just depends on how they want to tell the world. By analyzing author's style and purpose, the reader can make a deeper connection with the author. George Orwell, James Baldwin, and Joan Didion are perfect examples of writers that can move a country with just a word, their use of imagery and personal examples are truly masterpieces. But when compared to each other… A whole new world is imaginable.

What is common in both George Orwell’s writing and Joan Didion’s is the use of imagery and theme in author’s craft. Both essayist use imagery and theme to widen the view for the reader

and paint a vivid painting one stroke at a time (like Bob Ross). For example, in George Orwell’s writing of “Shooting an Elephant” he says, "The wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups", this alone gives the reader an idea of what was going on in burma. The quote utilizes imagery by comparing the prisoners to animals being locked in cages and treated inhumanely. Joan Didion also uses negative imagery, for example “Terror is the given of the place… Aim is taken as to pass the time.” Joan uses descriptive imagery to give a glimpse to the reader just how intimidating the police force can be. Both quotes show signs of tyranny and just how unfair and pressing the government can be.
The craft of the essays by Orwell and Baldwin are similar, due to using their own personal experiences in each passage to get a point across. For example, in Orwell’s narrative “Marrakech”, George is diagnosed with tuberculosis and is told to go to a warmer climate. During his time in Morocco he notices the negative effects on colonialism. Poverty, degradation, and misery are just the few signs george points out numerously in his writing. By narrating his time in Morocco, the reader can get a first hand experience of the damage colonialism has caused on the people. Thus, the reader clearly understands george’s point of colonialism is terrible. In Baldwin’s case, he feels isolation due to the color of his skin. In Baldwin’s narrative, “Stranger in the Village”, James is constantly being put on his toes because of the way the native people in this small Swiss village see him. They don't see him as human due to the color in his skin. Because very few Black people come to the village many are appalled and wish to study him like scientist studying an exterrestrial from outer space. Baldwin writes of sadness yet understandment as he does not blame the people entirely but imperialism and the lack of interaction the villagers have with the outside world. Seeing James’ time in the village through his eyes, gives the reader a perspective on how imperialism has caused racial segregation and alienation in modern times.
Moving onto purpose, James Baldwin’s “A Letter from Harlem” and Joan Didion’s “On Going Home”, differs in purpose as James does not want his children to experience home as he did, while Joan wants her kids to have the same heart warming she had as a kid.

As seen throughout “A Letter from Harlem”, James takes a position for not only him but the people in harlem by clearly stated multiple times “Negros want to be treated like men”. This purpose also continues onto saying he doesn't want his children to live like he did in Harlem. By James reflecting back to his house and how now it is replaced by housing projects, the reader is able to see James’ purpose and wanting a change with how he wants everyone to be treated equally. In contrast, Joan Didion lived “by all objective accounts a ‘normal’ and a ‘happy’ family situation”. Throughout her book she resurfaces her past accounts of memories that flood the heart and brain with joy. The purpose for her writing is to connect with the reader who has had similarly experiences and show just how important family and a place called home can really be. Therefore, by contrasting the purpose of these essays we as the reader can see two different point of views from two different scopes of life. This is important because by knowing the origin, purpose, and where someone comes from, the reader can relate on a personal level and truly understand the struggles of one’s life and the joy from

it.
The purpose for George Orwell writing “Shooting of a Elephant” and the purpose of James Baldwin writing “Stranger in the Village” is similar because both authors want to expose the truth some people may never see.

In the book “Shooting of a Elephant”, Orwell is constantly being harassed by the locals on and off duty as a cop on the streets of Burma.Orwell writes this book to show the truth about how corrupt is. For example, his last line of the book states “I often wondered whether any of the others gasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.” By this statement we can see George did not want to shoot the elephant, but instead was pressured by the people and wished to have his reputation not stoop any lower than it was. This compares to the purpose of James Baldwin book “Stranger in the Village” by showing the truth about imperialism and racism. In his book, Baldwin is also constantly getting harassed by the locals but what is different is some of the locals don't realize what they are saying. Still, James sheds light on the truth how African Americans are treated differently based on their skin. He sheds light on how imperialism caused the people to act this way due to white people controlling their village while many of the villagers never actually go out in the world. Therefore, these two essays compare by exposing the truth that others may not see or hear

about.
In conclusion, when comparing and contrasting the Essayists, one gathers a better understanding about what the author writes about and how they manage to express their feelings. Once a reader taps into this threshold of knowledge, it opens up the mind to further understand more works, and makes comprehending future texts easier. Therefore, By comparing author’s craft one can see how using different writing techniques gets a point across. BY contrasting purpose, one can view both sides of the spectrum and gather a more informative approach on a matter while learning from the author.