Quindlen Rhetorical Analysis
Quindlen Rhetorical Analysis
Most people think that their goal in life is to be perfect. They strive for the best grades, to be the best one on the sports’ team, get the most scholarships, go to the best college, and to get the highest paying job. In reality, aiming for perfection only leads to downfall. When a person strives for perfection the only thing that can happen is disappointment. Since no one in life is truly perfect, goals will not be met, and disappointment will have to be faced. In her speech Commencement Speech at Mount Holyoke College, Anna Quindlen explores the topic of perfection and how striving for it can put a damper on life. By using rhetorical devices and appealing to pathos, Quindlen is able to effectively drive her point home. This commencement speech was meant to be a wakeup call to all people who aim for perfection their whole lives, and to inform them that it is no way to live a good life. Quindlen believes that when a person strives for perfection they begin to conform to society. She wants all people to challenge the boundaries that society has in place for them. By challenging those boundaries it is possible to achieve a different form of perfection that is unique to everyone. Finally, Quindlen emphasizes her point by expressing that people should live life so that it makes them happy. If people are too busy worrying about what other people will think of them, there’s no time left in the day for them to truly experience life. In order to live life to its fullest people need to learn to cast their fears, doubt, guilt, and shame out the window and just go with the flow. Striving for perfection can only lead to a treacherous trek. Everything in life has a purpose: from sports, to school, to writing. When it comes to this speech Quindlen knew that she was addressing a group of women graduating from college, because of this she was able to relate to them on a personal level. She wanted to share the message of how struggling
Most people think that their goal in life is to be perfect. They strive for the best grades, to be the best one on the sports’ team, get the most scholarships, go to the best college, and to get the highest paying job. In reality, aiming for perfection only leads to downfall. When a person strives for perfection the only thing that can happen is disappointment. Since no one in life is truly perfect, goals will not be met, and disappointment will have to be faced. In her speech Commencement Speech at Mount Holyoke College, Anna Quindlen explores the topic of perfection and how striving for it can put a damper on life. By using rhetorical devices and appealing to pathos, Quindlen is able to effectively drive her point home. This commencement speech was meant to be a wakeup call to all people who aim for perfection their whole lives, and to inform them that it is no way to live a good life. Quindlen believes that when a person strives for perfection they begin to conform to society. She wants all people to challenge the boundaries that society has in place for them. By challenging those boundaries it is possible to achieve a different form of perfection that is unique to everyone. Finally, Quindlen emphasizes her point by expressing that people should live life so that it makes them happy. If people are too busy worrying about what other people will think of them, there’s no time left in the day for them to truly experience life. In order to live life to its fullest people need to learn to cast their fears, doubt, guilt, and shame out the window and just go with the flow. Striving for perfection can only lead to a treacherous trek. Everything in life has a purpose: from sports, to school, to writing. When it comes to this speech Quindlen knew that she was addressing a group of women graduating from college, because of this she was able to relate to them on a personal level. She wanted to share the message of how struggling