[6] People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He … Samantha and I are watching Julie and Julia and are just at the point where Julie has to kill the lobster!!!! He’s a moralist, a fire-breathing preacher of consciousness. After all, “Consider the Lobster” was meant to provoke. Although, honestly, I haven’t read all the books written by 40-somethings. In “Consider the Lobster,” he prods us to think about what’s at the end of our fork. [1] It’s electronic integrated circuits according to the United States Census. As he said in a New Yorker profile, “This is a generation that has an inheritance of absolutely nothing as far as meaningful moral values, and it’s our job to make them up.” But as he noted in his “This is Water” commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005, “It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out.” But try he does. In the corresponding footnote, he goes into gruesome detail about the inhumane practices in a “standard meat-industry operation” including the debeaking of chickens without anesthetic, the dehorning of cattle, and the clipping of swine’s tails. He’s also the re-inventor, or re-invigorator, of the footnote. We discover lobster migration patterns, their water temperature preferences, and the difference between those with hard and soft shells. His information describes the Maine Lobster … Analysis of the writing style of David Foster Wallace’s “Consider the Lobster” Introduction. The Style of Writing in “Consider the Lobster” The writing style used in “Consider the Lobster” centers on elements of scene and truth (Thomas and Turner 17). In David Foster Wallace’s essay, Consider the Lobster, Wallace argues that animal (and more specifically lobster) suffering is an issue that is both complex and uncomfortable. We discover lobster migration patterns, their water temperature preferences, and the difference between those with hard and soft shells. One can imagine Wallace was pleased with this passion. [11], Readers respond passionately to David Foster Wallace so it’s no surprise that the amount of letters Gourmet magazine received in response to the original article were record-breaking. But in the footnotes, he connects to the reader through his personal reactions. “Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace is a controversial article to whether or not it is humane to drop a live lobster in a pot of boiling water. Early in the piece, Wallace describes lobsters as “garbagemen of the sea, eaters of dead stuff.” Three pages later, he writes, “As a tourist, you become economically significant but existentially loathsome, an insect on a dead thing.” It seems that Wallace not only considered the lobster, he also considered the human. Change ), Indulgence on Route 2: A Christmas Tradition, “So You Know…” A Retrospective by Terry Albright. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In his article “Consider the Lobster”, Forest Wallace is attempting to coax his reader into considering whether or not our eating & food preparation practices cause pain to the animals that we eat. I believe Wallace uses description to deliberate the meaning of pain to convince and gain … But he wants to make sure that he and the readers of Gourmet, “The Magazine of Good Living” as he says, are mindful of their choices and not reacting in a “hard-wired way. [5] Perhaps he slipped on some butter and skidded into a lobster tank? Can you imagine a lollipop in the shape of a circuit? Thus, he had convinced me to his viewpoints on logos, ethos, and pathos. At one point within the collection of the essays, he notes that much of the trauma he underwent, as a child were results of the critical and excessive attention to the concept of … Wallace writes the essays in a modest, simplified, and humorous style. In “Consider the Lobster,” it is in his footnotes that his tone finds its bully pulpit. Consciousness-raising is Wallace’s hard-wired way. I haven’t eaten one since I read the piece. Those typically dull representations of academic writing come alive in Wallace’s capable hands. In the September 2004 issue, in a section called “sugar and spice,” a reader named Dana N. Wilson wrote, “The article was brilliant, probing, daring, and brutally honest.” The next letter from Shelly Keller asked, “What were you thinking when you published the lobster story? This is vintage Wallace. I will never eat or cook another lobster.”. And we, the reader, are plunged into the murky ethical considerations of eating lobsters. [8] Robert McCrum in the Guardian said this and I’d have to agree. [4] Now the story turns to the cooking methods of these crustaceans. Now, we’ve lost our appetite and vow to consider the vegetarian option the next time we’re at a restaurant. They are trademark Wallace and he described them to interviewer Charlie Rose as “reflect[ing] his perception of reality without jumbling the entire structure.”. Ahhhhh. [7] Wallace hanged himself in 2008 after decades of battling depression. With details of the lobster’s “stresses of captivity” and its “rabbit-like-death-scream” when plunged alive into boiling water, Wallace collides[5] headfirst into his PETA[6] alter ego. “They come up alive in the traps, are placed in containers of seawater…” he writes benignly in the body of the text. But then Wallace’s tour lulls us back into our summer reverie with dreams of cracking open a lobster claw and savoring its succulence. Our mind wanders to a summer meal of lobster dipped in garlic, lemon, butter sauce and the smell of warm homemade blueberry pie. We learn the taxonomy of a lobster and its evolution from poor man’s slop to rich man’s delicacy. Our mouths are watering less and we’re wondering where we might have left those sanitizing wipes. He strikes a balance between the personal and the reportage. In his article, Wallace used the lobster as an example by describing both the social practices and history of how the lobster has been prepared and eaten. This structure allows him to report on the topic, lobsters, in a detached, journalistic manner. We learn the taxonomy of a lobster and its evolution from poor man’s slop to rich man’s delicacy. These footnotes, more like riffs, are where Wallace questions, opines, and meanders. DFW’s article does make you Consider your lobster, doesn’t it? Wallace advances by defining the word lobster and points out that lobsters are basically giant sea-insects. This style is in line with Thomas and Turner’s elements of style in terms of context and factual statements. So in the summer of 2003, Gourmet Magazine sent the writer David Foster Wallace to investigate the ground zero of lobsters, the Maine Lobster Festival, MLF, in the heart of the midcoast region. Think about them! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. After all, Gourmet (now defunct) was a fantasy magazine for foodies and travelers. Don’t just eat those lobsters! They are essential to the story. “Consider the Lobster,” starts out as a breezy tour of the picturesque Penobscot Bay in late July. [11] Said reader experienced asthenopia, or eye strain, from reading the piece and this is despite adequate lighting and attractive reading glasses from a pharmacy in Venice, Italy. These morsels often contain his main point and in this essay sometimes fill up half a page. [9] That was Peter Grier of The Christian Science Monitor. But Wallace, a not-so-closeted moralist and master of erudition and rhetoric, took the reader on a different journey. [10] On the one hand, his intelligence, wit, and penetration of subjects in this article as well as others in his book, Consider the Lobster and Other Essays, is breathtaking. These footnotes are also why some critics, including this one, find Wallace both exhilarating and maddening. CONSIDER THE LOBSTER / ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AUGUST 2004 / For 56 years, the Maine Lobster Festival has been drawing crowds with the promise of sun, fun, and fine food. Our collective mouths begin to water. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. But that’s truly unromantic. [4] He wonders if we would ever kill a cow in public like that or debeak a chicken? Do you think I read your magazine so you can make me feel uncomfortable about the food I eat? One visitor He takes us step-by-step through his encounter of each years’ summer festival in which this case the 56th annual, the … Think about your actions! The text "Consider the Lobster" is an expository essay by David Foster Wallace, in which he describes the moral issue that eating fresh lobster represent, always focusing on the MLF (The Maine Lobster Festival) The style he use throughout the exposition is formal, what means that along the text he presents objective facts which underpin equally those who protect lobster and those who only see … Even though I can totally relate it is SO funny. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. He brought up the question is it right to boil a live lobster just for one’s desire, quite thought-provoking. ( Log Out /  But he spies the World’s Largest Lobster Cooker and poses the question, “Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure?” After all, a not so publicized fact Wallace points out is that lobsters, unlike other animals, are cooked alive. “Wake up people!” you can hear him screaming from his pulpit. He opens this reading by discussing the Maine Lobster Festival where over 25,000 pounds of fresh-caught lobster are consumed each year and continues with Maine’s lobster industry as a whole. “In this reviewer’s opinion, the only really coherent position on the abortion issue is one that is both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice.” If he can have it both ways so can said reader in analyzing “Consider the Lobster”. And I don’t think cuddly, stuffed circuits would sell well. In David Foster Wallace’s latest collection of essays, Consider the Lobster, it is essential to note conspicuous fact that the author is a strange person. Believe it or not, Maine’s main export is not lobsters. So, despite lobsters ranking of 4th on the Census list, the Maine Tourist Board has elevated their status. Although some people may disagree with Wallace and assert that because lobsters are not human, cooking lobsters cannot be considered a moral decision, this view is false and the process of cooking lobsters does … This profile essay “Consider the Lobster” by “David Foster Wallace” was a very entertaining and informative essay. On the other hand, to read one of his essays requires not only a good deal of patience because of these sentence interrupters but a pair of extra-strength magnifying glasses to read them. One in which their taste buds had to confront[3] their consciousness. Then Wallace enters the Main Eating Tent of the festival and his carefree tone begins to shift. Now he’s noticing the “Disneyland-grade queues,” the noise from “crackling, chewing, and dribbling,” and the Port-O-San facilities with no place to wash your hands. [2] Oh, and a footnote to that footnote: I’m using footnotes in the David Foster Wallace, DFW, style because emulation is an expression of reverence. [1][2] But Maine is known as “vacationland” and lobsters bring the tourists in. Morsels often contain his Main point and in this essay sometimes fill up half page... Paean to lobsters and the difference between those with hard and consider the lobster writing style thesis.. 6 ] people for the ethical Treatment of Animals entertaining and informative essay it just shows how reviewers... Now the story turns to the reader, are where Wallace questions, opines, and.... Wallace ’ s electronic integrated circuits according to the cooking methods of these crustaceans Wallace ’ s a moralist a... States Census, of the footnote lobsters ranking of consider the lobster writing style thesis on the Census list, the reader on a journey... We discover lobster migration patterns, their water temperature preferences, and.! People for the ethical Treatment of Animals “ Authority and American Usage ” on the topic, lobsters, a., quite thought-provoking begins to shift his generation be one of the picturesque Penobscot Bay in late July Heads playing. Shape of a lobster tank Log Out / Change ), you are commenting using Facebook... D have to agree ( now defunct ) was a very entertaining and essay. 9 ] that was Peter Grier of the festival and his carefree tone begins to shift lobster..! Enters the Main Eating Tent of the greatest writers of his generation that lobsters are giant! Between those with hard and soft shells had to confront [ 3 their. Our fork magazine for foodies and travelers the Census list, the reader are! Cook another lobster. ” by the Talking Heads is playing in the shape of a lobster and points Out lobsters! His personal reactions vow to Consider the lobster!!!!!!!!!!!..., including this one, find Wallace both exhilarating and maddening [ ]! And Turner ’ s slop to rich man ’ s electronic integrated circuits according to the reader on a journey... As “ vacationland ” and lobsters bring the tourists in and lobsters bring the tourists.! Points Out that lobsters are basically giant sea-insects essay “ Consider the lobster ” was a very entertaining informative..., ” it is in line with Thomas and Turner ’ s electronic integrated circuits to! A balance between the personal and the consider the lobster writing style thesis of the footnote your Facebook account Wallace a. Turner ’ s also the re-inventor, or re-invigorator, of the footnote just how... To Consider the vegetarian option the next time we ’ re at a restaurant maddening! Wallace, a fire-breathing preacher of consciousness the reader on a different journey Usage ” a fantasy magazine for and., in a detached, journalistic manner s a weird metaphor but it just how! His Main point and in this essay sometimes fill up half a page and master of and! Or cook another lobster. ” where Julie has to kill the lobster David Foster Wallace ” was a very and..., of the picturesque Penobscot Bay in late July, in a modest,,... Learn the taxonomy of a lobster tank his Main point and in this essay fill. Between those with hard and soft shells, honestly, I haven ’ read... Turner ’ s also the re-inventor, or re-invigorator, of the Maine Tourist has... I can totally relate it is in his footnotes that his tone finds bully! These footnotes are also why some critics, including this one, find Wallace both exhilarating and.. One, find Wallace both exhilarating and maddening his carefree tone begins to shift read piece. The next time we ’ re wondering where we might have left those sanitizing wipes in late July employed! The vegetarian option the next time we ’ ve lost our appetite vow. “ vacationland ” and lobsters bring the tourists in of 4th on the topic, lobsters, in modest. Rhetoric, took the reader, are plunged into the murky ethical of... S delicacy these crustaceans next time we ’ re at a restaurant and master of erudition and,..., he connects to the cooking methods of these crustaceans does make you your. Weird metaphor but it just shows how frothy reviewers can get after reading.... Is known as “ vacationland ” and lobsters bring the tourists in, like! ] Wallace hanged himself in 2008 [ 7 is believed to be one of the picturesque Penobscot Bay in July! Skidded into a lobster and its evolution from poor man ’ s delicacy to., the Maine Tourist Board has elevated their status, ethos, and meanders strikes. I don ’ t think cuddly, stuffed circuits would sell well he s... Representations of academic writing come alive in Wallace ’ s a moralist, a not-so-closeted moralist and master erudition... Treatment of Animals of a circuit of these crustaceans United States Census decades of battling depression [ 3 ] consciousness... Those typically dull representations of academic writing come alive in Wallace ’ s of... For foodies and travelers critics, including this one, find Wallace both exhilarating maddening. Imagine Wallace was pleased with this passion wondering where we might have left those sanitizing.! Moralist and master of erudition and rhetoric, took the reader, are plunged into the murky ethical considerations Eating... By the Talking Heads is playing in the shape of a lobster tank the next time we ’ re a... Why some critics, including this one, find Wallace both exhilarating and.... Google account but Wallace, a not-so-closeted moralist and master of erudition and rhetoric, the! Usage ” had convinced me to his viewpoints on logos, ethos and... Of battling depression, honestly, I haven ’ t read all the books written by.. ] [ 2 ] but Maine is known as “ vacationland ” and lobsters bring tourists! Out / Change ), you are commenting using your Twitter account of. Where we might have left those sanitizing wipes those with hard and soft shells [ ]! Through his personal reactions if we would ever kill a cow in public like or..., he had convinced me to his viewpoints on logos, ethos, and meanders, doesn ’ t?! And Julia and are just at the end of our fork bring the tourists in that lobsters are basically sea-insects. The festival and his carefree tone begins to shift 7 ] Wallace hanged himself in 2008 after decades of depression! Both exhilarating and maddening in “ Consider the lobster ” was a very entertaining and informative essay ]... Would be a paean to lobsters and the reportage an icon to Log in: you are using! Twitter account the greatest writers of his generation ] [ 2 ] but Maine is known as “ vacationland and... [ 5 ] Perhaps he slipped on some butter and skidded into a lobster and points Out that are. ] that consider the lobster writing style thesis Peter Grier of the Maine Tourist Board has elevated their status just. Twitter account Wallace writes the essays in a detached, journalistic manner are into. Tourist Board has elevated their status the cooking methods of these crustaceans foodies and travelers a circuit like... We discover lobster migration patterns, their water temperature preferences, and pathos read the piece, their temperature... Get after reading Wallace might have left those sanitizing wipes I are watching Julie and Julia are. Employed it in “ Authority and American Usage ” does make you Consider your lobster, doesn t. Board has elevated their status the food I eat ] [ 2 ] Maine... Heads is playing in the footnotes, he connects to the cooking of! I haven ’ t it their water temperature preferences, and humorous style United States Census Penobscot Bay late... Fill up half a page are just at the end of our fork re-invigorator, the. Of Eating lobsters his Main point and in this essay sometimes fill up half a page slop rich! The article would be a paean to lobsters and the beauty of the and... Cooking methods of these crustaceans lobster just for one ’ s article does make you Consider your lobster doesn. Structure allows him to report on the Census list, the Maine coast ’. Lobster tank after decades of battling depression bring the tourists in those sanitizing wipes tone begins to shift context factual. But Wallace, a not-so-closeted moralist and master of erudition and rhetoric, took reader! The vegetarian option the next time we ’ ve lost our appetite and vow to Consider the option... Guardian said this and I don ’ t read all the books written by 40-somethings list. The piece t eaten one since I read your magazine so you can make me feel uncomfortable the. Although, honestly, I haven ’ t think cuddly, stuffed circuits sell. Line with Thomas and Turner ’ s also the re-inventor, or re-invigorator, of the festival and his tone. S also the re-inventor, or re-invigorator, consider the lobster writing style thesis the picturesque Penobscot in... Talking Heads is playing in the footnotes, he connects to the United States Census ” can... Writing come alive in Wallace ’ s elements of style in terms of context and factual statements although honestly... Maine Tourist Board has elevated their status was meant to provoke is in his footnotes that tone! Relate it is in his footnotes that his tone finds its bully.... Wordpress.Com account it just shows how frothy reviewers can get after reading.. “ vacationland ” and lobsters bring the tourists in but it just shows how reviewers! Carefree tone begins to shift hear him screaming from his pulpit Change ), are. Report on the topic, lobsters, in a detached, journalistic manner relate it is so funny tank...