Scott Russell Sanders is a renowned American author, essayist, and professor of English. One of his most famous works is the essay "Under the Influence," which discusses the dangers of alcohol and the devastating effects it can have on individuals and society as a whole.
In "Under the Influence," Sanders reflects on his own experiences with alcohol and how it has affected his life and the lives of those around him. He begins by discussing the cultural and societal norms surrounding alcohol, particularly in the United States, and how it is often viewed as a necessary part of socializing and having a good time. Sanders points out, however, that this attitude towards alcohol often leads to excessive and irresponsible drinking, which can have serious consequences.
One of the main themes of "Under the Influence" is the destructive power of alcohol. Sanders discusses how it can impair judgment and lead to dangerous or even deadly situations, such as drunk driving or other reckless behavior. He also touches on the physical and emotional toll that alcohol can take on the body, including the risk of addiction and the damage it can do to relationships and families.
Despite the negative effects of alcohol, Sanders also acknowledges that it can be a difficult habit to break. He discusses the challenges he faced in trying to overcome his own reliance on alcohol and the social pressures that often encourage people to drink. He ultimately argues that it is important for individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and to recognize the true costs of alcohol, both to themselves and to those around them.
In conclusion, "Under the Influence" is a thought-provoking and powerful essay that highlights the dangers of alcohol and the need for individuals to be mindful of their own consumption. Sanders' personal experiences and observations serve to illustrate the real-world consequences of alcohol and provide a poignant reminder of the importance of moderation and responsibility.
Free Essay: Rhetorical Analysis of 'Under the Influence' by Scott...
Lavo the wino, who fell asleep smoking time and again, until one night his disgusted wife bundled up the children and went outside and left him in his easy chair to burn; he awoke on his own, staggered out coughing into the yard, and pounded her flat while the children looked on and the shack turned to ash. Some of the awards include the Lannan Literary Award, Mark Twain Award, John Burroughs Essay Award, and the Cecil Woods Award for Nonfiction. Another major comparison the author makes is a reference to the Bible. Scott states "withdraw from responsibility" which would be a disagreement. Each claim Sanders makes about his father is fully supported by logical reasoning. He knows how this secret has become who he is because of the fortified shame. Sander used to cry during the day and he got some beatings from the father at night when he came home really drunk.
Under the Influence by Scott Sanders
Jenkins, who beat his wife and kids so hard we could hear their screams from the road. We all have an identity and how much we understand of it has a lot to do with how our memories and experiences have shaped our realities to who we are today. Although this sentence is simple, his story is not. It is easy to imagine young Sanders watching his drunk father taking one unbalanced step after the other, slowly, which is the effect that the commas offer here. Three rhetorical strategies that really stood out were symbolism, archaic diction, and irony.
Under The Influence Analysis
Then one day Louie turned to God and stopped drinking. He drank as a gut-punched boxer gasps for breath, as a starving dog gobbles food—compulsively, secretly, in pain and trembling. This is an ongoing issue that many people deal with every day. It is, however, the mandate of the family affected to help an alcoholic deal with his addict just like Sander did with his father despite all the hard times he put him through together with his mother and siblings. He used a situation that was all around and such a huge issue that is important to the society today. In the nearby towns, there were no addiction treatment programs, no community mental health centers, no Alcoholics Anonymous chapters, no therapists.
"Under the influence " by Scott Russell Sanders
Some people would consider these magazines to be vulgar and raw however men still look at these magazines for enjoyment making them a form of art. Sanders writes his personal essay from the present perspective by reflecting upon the emotional scars of his youth which have leaked into his adulthood. The quick dose of second person uses the analogy of malaria to uncover the trauma hiding just beneath the surface of a person touched by alcoholism. At his worst, he could barely function without drugs, yet he knew this was not the person he wished to be. Because the narrator worked his little brother too much, it resulted in Doodle having more health complications. Soon, his father becomes verbally abusive towards his family.
Under The Influence By Scott Russell Sanders
This in turn varies the pacing and intensity of the narrative in a way that offers breaks in tension and in so doing creates for readers, a richer, more nuanced understanding of the past. But much of the insight we gain from the lines come from the two underlined time indicators emphasis added. With alcoholism come financial problems due to over-spending on alcoholic beverages. Neither the content nor the image patterning in this segment is chronological or situated on a specific timeline. His actions throughout the novel have extremely detrimental consequences for his wife, children, and himself.
Analysis Of Under The Influence By Scott Russell Sanders
The time period is in the course of slavery in the end of 1940s and 1950s. The techniques he utilizes include the use of metaphors, rhetorical questions a figure of speech in the form of a question without the expectation of a reply , capitalized words, sarcasm a sharp, bitter, or cutting remark; or a bitter taunt , and labeling. This is equivalent to how they looked at shame. Montage on this macro-level affords Sanders the ability to delve as deeply into the present moment as he does into the past all within the span of a few paragraphs. Sanders use of words in this shows how he used the Bible as comparison to how a person should behave. He grew up watching his father battle with alcoholism. Its genre is rhetorical; the principal message of the writing is to make the reader see the influence of alcohol in families.
