An Analysis of Cherokee Paul McDonald's 'A View from a Bridge'

In the essay "A View from a Bridge," the author, Cherokee Paul McDonald attempts to describe the world through words to a boy with no sight. McDonald uses very detailed descriptions of this account and in turn realizes that beauty is too often overlooked in everyday life. In McDonald's essay, he uses his experience fishing with a blind boy. While he uses first person, he also uses dialogue to explain what's going on. This allows the reader to get a feel for what's going on. Through the important interaction of the author with the blind boy, you are able to see the lesson that is trying to be taught. The language the author selects for himself and the little boy help the audience to see into their characters. McDonald uses short sentences, symbolizing his short temper and lack of patience with the boy. McDonald portrays himself as an angry and ill character, at the beginning of the story by having him shout phrases at the boy and cussing at the little boy when the boy asks for help. The little boy refers to McDonald as "Mister" and uses the word "hey" frequently to show the reader the youth of the boy and his innocence. The innocence of the little boy is shown when he makes comments such as ,"Would you help me please?" The author makes the little boy seem helpless and in need of guidance by having him fidget around to find his shrimp that he accidentally dropped on the ground. The author almost makes the reader feel sorry for the little boy, and this is brought out even more when the author will not stop to help the little boy. The reader feels angry when the author criticizes the way the blind boy is dressed, and the little boy's