All three essays were trying to tell about how the author learned a particular skill or lesson, much like the assignment we were given. Franklin and Malcolm both told how they came about their own self-education while Rose talked about the way that the education system could have failed him. Each author took a slightly different approach in writing their story. Franklin told the account of him being shuffled between potential career paths by his father after his time at school had been interrupted and abbreviated. The whole account, while told from the first person perspective was rather dry of Franklin’s feelings and opinions in the matter. He does not offer much reaction to the things that are happening to him. While very interesting and easily a relatable story for me, the particulars of this one were lost to me almost immediately.
The excerpt from Malcolm’s autobiography on the other hand was less formal and gave the story of him coming to reading by being jealous of a fellow inmates apparent wealth of knowledge. Again told in the first person but it felt more like he was interacting with the reader rather than just giving them an account of his time in prison and the effect that it had had on him. From this story a few scenes will stick with me with one in particular, his reading by the hall light trying to sneak in every last word when able. I remember as a child always having a flashlight or book light under the blankets reading well past my bedtime.
Finally there was Rose’s essay which I think I enjoyed the most. While I have loved to read from nearly earliest memory the story that was drawn up by the final story painted the best set for the location where it took place. He gave a strong impression on the place where the story unfolded, allowing me to get a feel for what it must have been like to be stuck going to a place like that day after day. He described set pieces that were not strictly necessary for the narrative but helped the reader understand it in a way that may not have been possible without the elaboration. Even though I never went to Our Lady of Mercy I can easily conjure up an image in my mind of what the place may have been like.
Good work!
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