There are many distinct reasons that compel writers to write, according to Joan Didion and George Orwell in their essays titled “Why I Write.” Their ideals are mostly different, but their end result is the same, which is basically being able to put words on paper for people to think about and enjoy. Didion admits that she stole the title from George Orwell, which acknowledges the fact that there are similarities in their writing. Orwell wrote his in 1946 and Didion in 1976. They share a similar motive as well as tone in their essays, however their writing styles differ.
Both authors want to persuade readers to their point of view. Orwell has this sense of hostility in his writing as well when saying that in order to write he must …show more content…
Orwell’s tone is somewhat somber and regretful in this essay. “And looking back through my work, I see that it is invariably where I lacked a political purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages without meaning, decorative adjectives, and humbug generally.” He criticizes his old work immensely because it wasn’t the message he wanted to get across in his writing. Didion’s tone is self-deprecating as well, critiquing her current and past endeavors in writing. “By which I mean (I am) not a “good” writer or a “bad” writer but simply a writer, a person whose most absorbed and passionate hours are spent arranging words on a piece of paper.”
There are many differences in these authors style of writing. Visual description is a key characteristic of Didion’s style, by reading this essay you can truly get a sense of her method of writing.
Orwell’s style of writing was very matter-of-fact and almost cynical, but with a realistic point of view. The writing is somewhat dry and approaches a list of events in a way. He also writes in the form of a personal essay, but talks about writers as a whole rather than just himself. Orwell’s style is very straightforward, making his point clear and simple, but gives