Don T Call Me Ishmael Analysis
Don’t Call Me Ishmael
Analytical Essay
Michael Gerad Bauer
In the novel Don’t Call me Ishmael language plays an important part. It is thought, “Language has the power to shape different realities about people, places and events. This can be clearly seen in the novel. Throughout the novel there are many examples that demonstrates how language can be empowering. However, the novel proves that language can be both used negatively or positively. The novel also emphasizes how one word can have an impact on someone.
There is another saying ‘Sticks and stones won’t break my bones’; this states that words cannot wound someone permanently. Nonetheless, words can definitely damage one mentally and hurt then deep down that it still remains there and be remember for long enough to cause more grief and harm. In the novel, this is shown through Barry and Ishmael strongly, when Barry insulted Ishmael for his name and says ‘Ishmael? What kind of a wussy-crap name is that?’. This stimulated Ishmael to believe that his name truly was a ‘wussy-crap name’ and that all his problems started with his name. This as he called it was ‘Ishmael Lesuer Syndrome’, triggered by his first and last name said together. …show more content…
This is an example of how Barry uses words negatively. However, once James Scobie arrives and Barry threatens him, Barry doesn 't feel tough and intimidating any longer as James Scobie uses the power of language and his intelligence to protect himself. Since, James uses large words to confuse Barry and stays calm while Barry loses his temper, it only shows that James words are hurting and provoking him. Revealing that James has won and Barry has lost the
Analytical Essay
Michael Gerad Bauer
In the novel Don’t Call me Ishmael language plays an important part. It is thought, “Language has the power to shape different realities about people, places and events. This can be clearly seen in the novel. Throughout the novel there are many examples that demonstrates how language can be empowering. However, the novel proves that language can be both used negatively or positively. The novel also emphasizes how one word can have an impact on someone.
There is another saying ‘Sticks and stones won’t break my bones’; this states that words cannot wound someone permanently. Nonetheless, words can definitely damage one mentally and hurt then deep down that it still remains there and be remember for long enough to cause more grief and harm. In the novel, this is shown through Barry and Ishmael strongly, when Barry insulted Ishmael for his name and says ‘Ishmael? What kind of a wussy-crap name is that?’. This stimulated Ishmael to believe that his name truly was a ‘wussy-crap name’ and that all his problems started with his name. This as he called it was ‘Ishmael Lesuer Syndrome’, triggered by his first and last name said together. …show more content…
This is an example of how Barry uses words negatively. However, once James Scobie arrives and Barry threatens him, Barry doesn 't feel tough and intimidating any longer as James Scobie uses the power of language and his intelligence to protect himself. Since, James uses large words to confuse Barry and stays calm while Barry loses his temper, it only shows that James words are hurting and provoking him. Revealing that James has won and Barry has lost the