Father Shop Best Analysis

The author of this essay, Father Shops Best, uses several different rhetorical modes. Examples of these would be, observation, reflection, and autobiography. Dan Zevin, the author of this essay, is looking back on the first time that he and his father had went shopping at Costco together. The author is telling a story about a personal experience of his, one that reflects back on his past, and is talking about the way that things looked and what he experienced in this memory.
At the beginning of the essay the author states that all his friends are worried that they are turning into their fathers, but then the author says that he was scared that he is not becoming like his father. He then begins to reflect back on a trip that he and his father …show more content…
He states several items that his father is giving him to put in the basket, such as a 36 pack of toilet paper, dish soap, bananas and many other items, this is to help the reader imagine all the things that are in the author’s arms and/or basket. “I’m nervous about putting anything in my cart. Where will I put all this?” The author says to himself. “Under my daughter’s bed is where we keep the Kleenex. Behind the pedestal sink is where we stack the vitamins. (150)” The author includes these sentences to try to get the reader to imagine how cluttered his house may be. The author says that he realizes that each purchase, or item placed into his basket, should lead to the next. He then lists examples of what he means by this, “There is a case of lighbulbs that are the same brand as the ones that burned out in the living room. I left it burned out because it’s such a hassle to reach it on our crappy stepladder. I must get the MegaLite Ladder over there by the fire extinguishers. Speaking of fire extinguishers, we should have some of those and battery operated smoke alarms because ours go off the second you light a candle. Which is why I am getting a new LED flashlight. (151)” When the author and his father are checking out at Costco, the author must have his picture taken for his Costco ID card. After the picture is taken, and the card has been made, the author realizes how much he really is like his father (appearance and behavior). Had the author not agreed to go shopping with his father he would not have had this realization. He would still worry that he wasn’t becoming as independent or as smart as his father. As they are leaving the store, the author notices that outside the sun is setting. I think the reason the author included this sentence about the sun setting in this essay is because he is proud that he is becoming like his