Analytical Essay - Even Wives Want a Wife
Even Wives Want a Wife
In today’s society the wife is seen as the member of the household that upkeeps the house and caters to other’s needs. Who wouldn’t want one of these of their own? In “I Want a Wife” the author Judy Brady sarcastically explains why everyone would want a wife. She begins with a story of how a friend of hers is newly single and he is looking for “a wife” although in reality he wants a servant; Brady then realizes that she too wants a wife of her own (Brady 542). The main points made in the essay are what the wife would do for the author such as household chores, taking care of children, catering to her friends and many other satirical duties. All the while several literary devices are used to enhance the article. She uses these elements to show sexist and selfish ideas of men that are prevalent in society. “I Want a Wife” efficiently reasons for how the male gender generalizes the role of a wife in a sexist way in our society by making use of ethos, logos, pathos, satire and repetition.
Ethos is used in the essay as Brady is a wife herself. Since she is she must have a certain expertise of being a wife. As she states in one of the beginning paragraphs “I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am a wife. And, not altogether incidentally I am a mother” (Brady 542). This shows her credibility; that all the jobs and duties she mentioned must have been personally experienced by her.
The many jobs and chores discussed make the audience feel sympathy for wives and the author herself through pathos. The author concludes the essay by saying “My god, who wouldn’t want a wife” (Brady 544)? This rhetorical question allows the readers to determine that this idea is wrong and treats women like a lesser being compared to men. The ending also evokes the reader to take action towards the topic.
The author utilizes logos by stating many facts such as jobs women often do while speaking through experience. She lists all of these over
In today’s society the wife is seen as the member of the household that upkeeps the house and caters to other’s needs. Who wouldn’t want one of these of their own? In “I Want a Wife” the author Judy Brady sarcastically explains why everyone would want a wife. She begins with a story of how a friend of hers is newly single and he is looking for “a wife” although in reality he wants a servant; Brady then realizes that she too wants a wife of her own (Brady 542). The main points made in the essay are what the wife would do for the author such as household chores, taking care of children, catering to her friends and many other satirical duties. All the while several literary devices are used to enhance the article. She uses these elements to show sexist and selfish ideas of men that are prevalent in society. “I Want a Wife” efficiently reasons for how the male gender generalizes the role of a wife in a sexist way in our society by making use of ethos, logos, pathos, satire and repetition.
Ethos is used in the essay as Brady is a wife herself. Since she is she must have a certain expertise of being a wife. As she states in one of the beginning paragraphs “I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am a wife. And, not altogether incidentally I am a mother” (Brady 542). This shows her credibility; that all the jobs and duties she mentioned must have been personally experienced by her.
The many jobs and chores discussed make the audience feel sympathy for wives and the author herself through pathos. The author concludes the essay by saying “My god, who wouldn’t want a wife” (Brady 544)? This rhetorical question allows the readers to determine that this idea is wrong and treats women like a lesser being compared to men. The ending also evokes the reader to take action towards the topic.
The author utilizes logos by stating many facts such as jobs women often do while speaking through experience. She lists all of these over