“Loudon Wainright: A Tale of Human Nature”
On March 13, 1964, 38 people watched, 38 people looked away, 38 people did not do anything, only 1 person suffered. That's what happened in "The Dying Girl that No One Helped," an editorial by Loudon Wainright. In the editorial Wainright tells about Kitty Genovese and how she was murdered in front of at least 38 witnesses. After the murder nobody wanted to fess up and explain what happened that night, they did not even want to call the police. This editorial shows everyone the sad truth of how society does not want to risk anything or do anything to help anyone else with the use of imagery, irony, and emotional appeals. Throughout the editorial Wainright uses imagery to help the reader see and understand the situation. “I pulled the blind so hard it came off the window. The girl was on her knees struggling to get up”. (paragraph 9) That quote paints a clear picture of what the witness wants us to think he did and saw, it is a good use of imagery. It is a great example of how Wainright helps the reader understand how the witnesses want to be seen as …show more content…
The title itself is ironic, “The Dying Girl that No One Helped”, normally death brings grieving and mourning but in this situation the witnesses felt nothing. “I could see people with their heads out and hear windows going up and down all along the street.” (paragraph 9) This witness was not the only one to watch the scene that was unfolding in front of the apartment complex. Out of all of the people who watched, none of them would risk something to help Kitty’s life, thus creating irony. When Police Lieutenant Bernard Jacobs was discussing the investigation he said, “It’s a nice neighborhood, isn’t it?” This rhetorical question brings out the true irony in the matter. If the neighborhood is considered to be a “good neighborhood” then why did the not help a dying
On March 13, 1964, 38 people watched, 38 people looked away, 38 people did not do anything, only 1 person suffered. That's what happened in "The Dying Girl that No One Helped," an editorial by Loudon Wainright. In the editorial Wainright tells about Kitty Genovese and how she was murdered in front of at least 38 witnesses. After the murder nobody wanted to fess up and explain what happened that night, they did not even want to call the police. This editorial shows everyone the sad truth of how society does not want to risk anything or do anything to help anyone else with the use of imagery, irony, and emotional appeals. Throughout the editorial Wainright uses imagery to help the reader see and understand the situation. “I pulled the blind so hard it came off the window. The girl was on her knees struggling to get up”. (paragraph 9) That quote paints a clear picture of what the witness wants us to think he did and saw, it is a good use of imagery. It is a great example of how Wainright helps the reader understand how the witnesses want to be seen as …show more content…
The title itself is ironic, “The Dying Girl that No One Helped”, normally death brings grieving and mourning but in this situation the witnesses felt nothing. “I could see people with their heads out and hear windows going up and down all along the street.” (paragraph 9) This witness was not the only one to watch the scene that was unfolding in front of the apartment complex. Out of all of the people who watched, none of them would risk something to help Kitty’s life, thus creating irony. When Police Lieutenant Bernard Jacobs was discussing the investigation he said, “It’s a nice neighborhood, isn’t it?” This rhetorical question brings out the true irony in the matter. If the neighborhood is considered to be a “good neighborhood” then why did the not help a dying