Descriptive Essay Compare And Contrast

Students have been writing essays since education was formalized centuries ago. There are several formats that they are taught throughout the course of their formal education, two of the most common being; Narrative, and Descriptive. Both of these have distinct characteristics that define them, and while they share many similar qualities and are developed to make the reader immerse themselves in the story. Narratives tend to have the power to capture and persuade on a deeper level than most descriptive papers. Two prime examples are the narrative I Want a Wife by Judy Brady and the descriptive essay Fish Cheeks by Amy tan. While they both do an exceptional job at delivering a lesson Brady’s causes you to think from the beginning, her use of the rhetorical devices such as pathos, ethos, and logos are incorporated with a heavy use of sarcasm and harsh remarks that claws for the reader’s attention.
The 1970’s were a time for movements and change, Brady’s I Want a Wife takes inspiration from the feminist movement as she takes the stand of a male and gives a perfect example of the imbalance of power and rights between the sexes. By using a male’s point of view on the definition of a traditional wife she is able to create tension, and with her heavy use of sarcasm is able to make valid points on some serious matters and lighten it with humor. By remaining consistent on her point and maintaining fluidity through her use of sarcasm each and every claim that is made is validated and linked. “I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue care for me and my when I need a rest and change of scene.” Is directly linked to; “I want a wife who is sensitive to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love p...

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...to have shame." (Tan, 2013) Her mother’s words cause the reader to have an “oh I see” moment and pause before continuing on with the read.
Overall, Brady is able to create a splendid representation of female comicality and an atmosphere of 1970s authenticity. By using the rhetorical devices of pathos, Ethos, and logos, additionally she is able to engage and hold the reader’s attention through the use of sarcasm and wit. She is able to deliver a powerful message and teach a lesson in equality that forcers her readers to take attention. It is in my opinion that while Tan was also able to deliver a lesson to the reader through the use of descriptive language it was that exact language that also got in the way of that message and caused a distraction. So consumed by making sure that they see and experience the atmosphere around her the message is lost until the end.