Analysis of Eighner’s “On Dumpster Diving” “On Dumpster Diving” is an essay written by Lars Eighner, detailing the art and proper protocol of dumpster diving, or as Eighner prefers it to be called, scavenging. Eighner gathers the wisdom he has learned from living on the streets in this essay, writing in a straightforward and descriptive style. He touches on many different points: wastefulness, the everyday living conditions of the homeless, and the value of materialistic objects. Eighner strives to educate readers while destigmatizing dumpster diving as a whole. Beginning his essay by establishing his credibility, Eighner uses his own experiences of dumpster diving to prove to readers that he is knowledgeable and well-informed in this area
…show more content…
He captures the emotional state of an amateur dumpster diver: “Every grain of rice seems to be a maggot. Everything seems to stink. He can wipe the egg yolk off the found can, but he cannot erase the stigma of eating garbage out of his mind” (145). Readers cringe at his vivid and effective language, imagining the dive into the dumpster, and then envisioning the effects that one might experience after. Eighner speaks of the ever-present fear that something he is eating is contaminated, knowing that there are people who purposely contaminate food; he tells of a pizza shop that put jalapeños on all of their pizzas hoping to discourage him from taking those discarded from their dumpster (144). Eighner’s openness about the vindictiveness of some human beings is inconceivable to some readers. The idea that someone would go out of their way to contaminate what might help someone else is flabbergasting, confusing, but Eighner shows little surprise when describing this, knowing that it happens often. Eighner makes sure to be blunt about the effects of dumpster diving, frankly stating that he gets dysentery at least once a month (144). He touches on encountering creatures in the dumpsters, specifically irate cats, bees, birds, maggots, and fire ants (149). Eighner makes sure to report that scavenging is dangerous, at some points …show more content…
Eighner describes the addictive behavior of gathering fascinating and invaluable things found whilst scavenging. “All the Dumpster divers I have known come to the point of trying to acquire everything they touch” (145), Eighner writes, acknowledging the presence of hoarding in the world of dumpster diving. He too, admits that he was shocked in realizing that not everything he found was worth acquiring. For people who have nothing, everything seems valuable and advantageous. “Every bit of glass may be a diamond, they think, and all that glistens, gold” (145). Eighner restrains himself from collecting things he has no use for; a dumpster diver must learn to control themselves and distinguish between beneficial items and junk. On the idea of materialism, Eighner, at the very end of his essay, takes a hit at the wealthy, comparing himself to someone who is fortunate enough to be in the state of economic well-being: both Eighner and this person know, when it comes to things, there is plenty more where that came from (151). Eighner need never worry about finding something for survival, as the wealthy need never worry about obtaining what they desire. He concludes his essay with a rather stunning and ironic sentence, revealing that while he does not feel sorry for himself, he feels sorry for the well-off: “I feel sorry for them” (151). Eighner takes pity on those who are, perhaps, empty on the inside; those who only value materialistic
He captures the emotional state of an amateur dumpster diver: “Every grain of rice seems to be a maggot. Everything seems to stink. He can wipe the egg yolk off the found can, but he cannot erase the stigma of eating garbage out of his mind” (145). Readers cringe at his vivid and effective language, imagining the dive into the dumpster, and then envisioning the effects that one might experience after. Eighner speaks of the ever-present fear that something he is eating is contaminated, knowing that there are people who purposely contaminate food; he tells of a pizza shop that put jalapeños on all of their pizzas hoping to discourage him from taking those discarded from their dumpster (144). Eighner’s openness about the vindictiveness of some human beings is inconceivable to some readers. The idea that someone would go out of their way to contaminate what might help someone else is flabbergasting, confusing, but Eighner shows little surprise when describing this, knowing that it happens often. Eighner makes sure to be blunt about the effects of dumpster diving, frankly stating that he gets dysentery at least once a month (144). He touches on encountering creatures in the dumpsters, specifically irate cats, bees, birds, maggots, and fire ants (149). Eighner makes sure to report that scavenging is dangerous, at some points …show more content…
Eighner describes the addictive behavior of gathering fascinating and invaluable things found whilst scavenging. “All the Dumpster divers I have known come to the point of trying to acquire everything they touch” (145), Eighner writes, acknowledging the presence of hoarding in the world of dumpster diving. He too, admits that he was shocked in realizing that not everything he found was worth acquiring. For people who have nothing, everything seems valuable and advantageous. “Every bit of glass may be a diamond, they think, and all that glistens, gold” (145). Eighner restrains himself from collecting things he has no use for; a dumpster diver must learn to control themselves and distinguish between beneficial items and junk. On the idea of materialism, Eighner, at the very end of his essay, takes a hit at the wealthy, comparing himself to someone who is fortunate enough to be in the state of economic well-being: both Eighner and this person know, when it comes to things, there is plenty more where that came from (151). Eighner need never worry about finding something for survival, as the wealthy need never worry about obtaining what they desire. He concludes his essay with a rather stunning and ironic sentence, revealing that while he does not feel sorry for himself, he feels sorry for the well-off: “I feel sorry for them” (151). Eighner takes pity on those who are, perhaps, empty on the inside; those who only value materialistic