How Does Christopher Morley Use Informal Language In On Laziness

Laziness is commonly perceived as being a negative characteristic by society. However, in Christopher Morley’s “On Laziness,” laziness is endorsed and proclaimed that to be more beneficial to human lives. Morley uses examples that appeal to the society’s aspirations and desires; as well as uses scholarly, yet informal language throughout the essay to engage the readers, make them feel more relatable, and to make the idea of laziness sound enticing to the audience.
Throughout the entire essay, Christopher Morley speaks with an intellectual language, but gives off an informal vibe as well. Morley uses intellectual examples throughout the essay to prove his point that laziness isn’t this immoral trait that society perceives it to be, but he does it in a casual way that makes the readers feel more relaxed and allows them to understand the main idea more. For example, in paragraph seven, “The laziest man we know- we do not like to mention his name, as the brutal world does not yet recognize sloth at its community value- is one of the greatest poets in this country; one of the keenest satirists; one of the most rectilinear thinkers.” This quote supports the conception that laziness shouldn’t be a disgraceful attribute because even the most creative and successful people are lazy. The way this quote is …show more content…
The fact that this example revolves around a doctor shows credibility, which then persuades the audience that laziness is acceptable because even a doctor can show signs of laziness. Morley makes is a point to make the doctor relatable to the readers, so the readers can understand the purpose of what Morley is trying to