Style Analysis Of Christopher Morley's 'On Laziness'

“On Laziness” style analysis Christopher Morley attempts to show his audience the benefits of laziness through appeals to pathos. With the energetic use of high level language, Morley transforms people’s view on laziness from having a negative connotation to being one of sophistication and wisdom. Morley uses sophisticated diction to achieve his purpose. A sentence such as the following demonstrates his use of diction, “Henceforward we are going to make a determined effort to be more languid and demure” (Morley 64). “Languid” and “demure” are not commonly used words in conversation; using words like these formalize the piece and add a level of seriousness to the message. People are going to respect and appreciate something that presents itself as a serious idea. These diction choices also show that Morley respects his audience; people

In order to make these appeals to pathos, he presents laziness as a solution to some of man’s greatest desires. As a society, one of our major problems is happiness. Many people live their lives as sad drones stumbling through whatever life throws at them. Morley promises happiness to the “thoroughly and philosophically slothful.” He also assures the reader that the lazy man does not have the responsibilities of “the bustling man.” In more recent times stress has become a major problem for America; people adopt pills, books, candles, and even whole lifestyle changes trying to find a solution to the stress. Morley presents a resolution. One of man’s greatest desires is to be liked and respected. Morley comes out and says it very bluntly, “People respect laziness” (Morley 65). He later states that if one stays lazy through and through, that people will let you be. Too many times people have the tendency to get involved in others. When one presents themselves as a lazy man, the intruders will pass by and allow one to continue