My Thoughts on "The Deer at Providencia"

          

“The Deer at Providencia”(1982), by Annie Dillard, is a literary narrative which explores the concept of suffering.  Dillard’s wish in the narrative is to figure out why suffering exist in nature.  Dillard develops her essay by describing events in which suffering has taken place.  Her intended purpose  is to make humans examine the existence of suffering in the world.

     Dillard’s essay was a difficult for me to follow.  Though I understood the point she was trying to make the reader grasp, I was a little lost while reading her narrative.  She uses alot of subtle imagery throughout  the text that made it difficult for me to catch.  When Dillard breaks off from the image of the deer suffering in the Amazon and trys to link it with a burn victim in Boston, she completely lost me.

     The beginning of the text was very descriptive and graphic when descriping the state of the deer.  Towards the end, the tone of the story seems to become more general, and not as precise.  The text seems to be very subtle and abstract.  Trying to constantly find the hidden message made it hard to grasp the effect the writer was trying to convey.  

    

My Thoughts on "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society"

  

                                                           

      "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society"(1985), by Jonathan Kozol, is an informative essay which explores the cost illiteracy can have on humankind, Kozol idea is that a society which suffers from illiteracy can not continue to sustain itself on a first class level.  Kozol develops his essay by using a variety of personal examples from others on how not being literate can have extremely negative consequences on a person's life.  Kozol intended purpose is to remind others of the threat illiteracy is to a society.  Kozol's intended audience are literate Americans.


     Kozol's essay speaks on a lot of social issues that can effect everyone, even those who are lliterate.  When you live in a democratic society,  the decisions and votes of others can have serious effects on your life.  The American standard of living will continue to decrease if we do not try to help those who are illiterate.  Illeteracy has long lasting consequences for everyone, even those who are literate.


     Kozol's essay is very organized and precise.  He uses the language in his essay to make others appreciate the fact that they are literate.  Most of the tone in the story is meant to make the reader show more sympathy towards the illiterate.  He starts his essay by first showing the affect illiteracy can have on daily activities like paying bills, writing checks, and reading signs, he then shows how illiteracy can have deadly repercussions.  Kozol ultimately shows that illiteracy traps a person in a narrow life, and society bears the burden of its effects.