The Pencilsword: On A Plate Summary

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Recommended: Income and wealth inequality sociology

Known illustrator and comic artist, Toby Morris publishes his online short story, “The Pencilsword: On a Plate,” which introduces a sociological concept that gives meaning to how people approach their social economic status. Morris’s purpose is to expand the meaning of privilege and to convey the idea that people seem to differentiate others according to their economic upbringing. He presents his argument by using two main characters, Richard and Paula, each identified separately based on their financial stability of their family and the effects they receive from it. They each live in separate households with very distinct lifestyles. Richard lives a prosperous, easy, and stress free life with many open opportunities, while Paula lives a considerably …show more content…

He constructs this format to compare and contrast the characters and how their financial stability influences how they live. Allowing his readers to view the status of each one and understand the differences. He structures it by beginning to end, starting his characters as young infants then slowly progressing to young adults and eventually as grown ups. He uses a timeline format with written descriptions to guide his readers to view each of the characters steps that they take. With this format we can imply that “Richard goes to a great school, well resourced, good kids and his teachers love their job”, and we can identify that “At Paula’s school, the class sizes are large, the school is underfunded, and looks it. Her teachers are tired, stretched thin from the stress.” He structures this so that his audience can identify each of the significant details of the characters and to determine the certain lives each undergo. This shows each of the characters moves and how they develop. The purpose of the format is to help his readers to analyze and draw conclusions of each of the individuals and know the reasons and effects behind having privileges. Morris is drawing his audience to understand how ones outcomes in life are determined by the privileges they receive and the advantages that come with it. “Wealthy people already pass on a lot of advantages to their children; they can afford better education, and a better environment at home (more books, quiet places to study etc.).” (Buttonwood. Para. 14) The author is trying to convince his readers that the key concept of privilege is inheritance. Being born with strong financial backing is what supports ones success. Although, mind does play a big part in ones success, opportunities one receives are the big component of a person’s outcome in life. Morris uses this point to help support his argument about

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