A Fair City
I could speak of Joan Didion's use of rhetorical devices. I could describe every subtle simile she imposes and preach of her incredible use of personification, but I think the most important piece of the essay would, then, be neglected. In "Goodbye to All That," Didion compares her experiences in New York to the occurrences at a fair. This metaphor is discussed in a very roundabout way. Ultimately, though, Didion (like anybody) grew tired and dissatisfied with the fair (in her case NYC).
Fairs lure people in through the gates with bright lights, loud buzzers, and exhilarating games. These same tactics help to attract tourists to New York City. Like a kid at a fair, Didion becomes enticed by such distractions and cannot draw herself away from her fair, the city. Her outlook on this new city is parallel with a child's viewpoint of his/her experience at a fair, for the first time. She states, "New York was no mere city. It was instead and infinitely romantic notion,......
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Approximate Word Count: 703
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |