Close Reading #3: New Hope on Immigration

“New Hope of Immigration” addresses the widely debated issue of immigration. The author argues that President Obama and Congress should take a new approach on immigration laws now that Republicans have softened up their stance on it. Through the use of rhetorical devices such as figurative language, diction, and details, the author creates a sense of grave urgency, demanding the reader’s attention.

Through the use of figurative language, the author creates ideas that resonate in the readers mind so that it creates more emphasis of what the author believes. When saying, “invading army of job stealers” when talking of how the Republican party views immigrants this creates an image in the readers mind of an actual army that is fighting people to take their jobs. The reader knows that this is not actually occurring but it makes the views of Republicans seem harsher due to the unrealistic nature of the phrase. In addition when talking about Mitt Romney as “deporter in chief” the reader knows that this is not a real position. But it does allude to commander in chief which is a well-respected position that requires a lot of work and therefore creates more of a negative connotation for Mitt Romney.

With the diction “rock-ribbed” and “hard-liners,” the author portrays the Republican party of recent years as inflexible and bordering on the extreme. When talking of the views that Republicans have of immigrants he refers to them as “welfare moochers” which immediately creates a negative connotation by using a word that refers to being stealers. In contrast, the author uses more neutral report-style language to describe Obama’s plan as a way to “integrate and assimilate” the illegal immigrants in to our society. These words make Obama seem like a more reasonable person that has a more well thought out plan than the Republican party.  By matching his diction to his feelings towards each major political party, the author reveals his attitude towards each party.

The author utilizes details to further emphasize his views towards those against immigration and those for it. When talking of the “hard-liners” that do not support the reform the Democrats, the author uses to detail to list the types of people that are against it, such as “white culture alarmists and closet racists.” These two types of people have an extremely negative connotation, which reflects the author’s view of the anti-reformists and ultimately causes the reader to believe the same. He uses “student activists, business groups, farmers, labor unions, Catholic bishops, evangelical churches, African Americans, civil-liberties organizations, and American citizens” as details to describe those that support reform of immigration. All these groups represent positive ideas and therefore support the author’s idea of reform.

Through the use of figurative language, diction, and details the author of “New Hope on Immigration” effectively argues that President Obama should begin his reform ideas now that the Republicans have softened up their stance on immigration. 

Link to Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/opinion/sunday/new-hope-on-immigration.html?_r=0

Open Prompt #3

1975. Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the stereotyped character successfully. Select one work of acknowledged literary merit and in a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters function to achieve the author's purpose.

The American Dream, a play written by Edward Albee, uses stereotypical characters of a traditional family (“Mommy,” “Daddy”, “Grandma”) to represent the structure of traditional American values and the “old American Dream,” only to break it down again. By using these stereotypes, Albee creates expectations in order to destroy them and universalizes the breakdown of the American Dream.

Mommy is a controlling, self-absorbed woman who only cares about herself. She has emasculated Daddy and prides herself in her ability to control him. She is known to be the “typical” bad mother, which is exhibited when Albee talks of her cutting up her “bumble”. She tells Daddy that it is impossible to find satisfaction these days so she must spend useless amounts of time buying objects, such as the beige hat, until her needs are satisfied. In addition she tells Daddy that he must give her all his money when he dies because she allowed him to “bump his uglies” on her. This characteristic shows how the new dream has made the human being into a commodity Through all these characteristic the reader is able to interpret what Albee’s means of the “new american dream.” Mommy is shown to have lost her way in what is important in life, which portrays Albee’s opinion of how the new dream is only concerned with oneself.

Daddy is portrayed to be an extremely childlike character that never knows what to do and is frequently emasculated by Mommy. This is shown when Daddy is hesitant of opening the door for Mrs. Barker. He needs Mommy’s approval and assurance to preform this easy task and once he does he thinks extremely highly of himself when in reality he has just opened the door. Through this stereotypical characterization Albee shows how the American Dream has also been emasculated in the fact that people have lost a sense of themselves.

Grandma does not fit in with the old generation because of her usefulness and willingness to work hard in order to be independent and self-sustaining. She is frequently seen chastising the younger generation, saying “You don’t have any feelings, that’s what’s wrong with you”. Though this line on the surface may seem to contrast Grandma’s personality to Mommy’s or Daddy’s personality with further inspection we can see that all these stereotypes are being used to contrast the old and new american dreams. The old american dream was more sympathetic and easy to talk to whereas the new american dream only cares about them and others will affect their lives. 

Through the use of stereotypes, Albee effectively contrasts the values of the old and new American dreams. The old American dream values hard work and independence whereas the new American dream only cares about materialistic objects and do not work hard at their goals.