The purpose behind an author’s piece is what ultimately makes it interesting. Many people enjoy reading for various reasons; some like to read for entertainment and others like to read in order to develop a deeper understanding of a topic he or she wishes to learn more about. This can also be applied in regards to why authors enjoy writing -- he or she will always have a purpose. For instance, in Tim O 'Brien 's The Things They Carried, he tells many stories from when he was in the Vietnam War. He revisits numerous memories to portray the physical and emotional burdens of being in the war. On the other hand, in Jonathan Smith’s A Modest Proposal, he proposes that the Irish start to eat their babies in order to resolve the overpopulation and
…show more content…
O’Brien and Smith both have distinctive tones that feed the initial reaction the audience has towards their pieces. For instance, in O’Brien’s novel, Rat explains the difference between the reactions soldiers would have in regards to people like Mary Anne. He argues, “She was a girl, that’s all. I mean, if it was a guy, everybody’d say, Hey no big deal, he got caught up in the Nam shit, he got seduced by the greenies. See what I mean? You got these blinders on about women. How gentle and peaceful they are” (78). O 'Brien 's defensive tone enhances the significance of Mary Anne’s physical and mental transformation through phrases such as “she was a girl” and “how gentle and peaceful they are”. O’Brien utilizes this type of tone for this occasion because he wants the audience to note the emotional transformation that can occur from being in the war. This causes the audience to react differently because he or she is able to view the transformation within in a young woman instead of a young man, whom most war stories are written about. Through O’Brien’s tone, the audience is able to realize that war is toxic regardless of whether you are a soldier or not. On the other hand, Smith’s tone causes an uprising of disapproval within his audience. Smith describes how no one can discuss alternative measures with him because he as waited long enough to consider the idea he has suppressed for many years. He states, “...of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy toward their tenants...although perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it” (11, 12). Smith’s sarcastic tone portrays his feelings towards English power in Ireland through phrases such as “at least one degree of mercy” and “would be glad to eat up our whole nation”. Smith utilizes a sarcastic tone because he wants the general public
O’Brien and Smith both have distinctive tones that feed the initial reaction the audience has towards their pieces. For instance, in O’Brien’s novel, Rat explains the difference between the reactions soldiers would have in regards to people like Mary Anne. He argues, “She was a girl, that’s all. I mean, if it was a guy, everybody’d say, Hey no big deal, he got caught up in the Nam shit, he got seduced by the greenies. See what I mean? You got these blinders on about women. How gentle and peaceful they are” (78). O 'Brien 's defensive tone enhances the significance of Mary Anne’s physical and mental transformation through phrases such as “she was a girl” and “how gentle and peaceful they are”. O’Brien utilizes this type of tone for this occasion because he wants the audience to note the emotional transformation that can occur from being in the war. This causes the audience to react differently because he or she is able to view the transformation within in a young woman instead of a young man, whom most war stories are written about. Through O’Brien’s tone, the audience is able to realize that war is toxic regardless of whether you are a soldier or not. On the other hand, Smith’s tone causes an uprising of disapproval within his audience. Smith describes how no one can discuss alternative measures with him because he as waited long enough to consider the idea he has suppressed for many years. He states, “...of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy toward their tenants...although perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it” (11, 12). Smith’s sarcastic tone portrays his feelings towards English power in Ireland through phrases such as “at least one degree of mercy” and “would be glad to eat up our whole nation”. Smith utilizes a sarcastic tone because he wants the general public