Rhetorical Writing in Crosley’s Wheels Up
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Treating the Disabled
In her essay, ‘Wheels Up,’ Sloane Crosley questions the sincerity of reactions that people living with disabilities evoke from others within society. In her Essay, Crosley primarily wants to know if it’s okay for a disabled person to behave in an uncouth manner because people will forgive them. Depicting a rude, insensitive, and uncaring woman in a wheelchair, she seeks to show that even people in wheelchairs can be rude and uncaring and could go as far as intentionally hurt a dog, the basest of all unjustifiable actions. Crosley questions whether or not society is right in giving people certain advantages based solely on their abilities. She also wonders whether the emotional sympathy given to disabled persons compromises individual authenticity and ability to accurately perceive a situation and respond accordingly (Massey, 2018).
The tone of the Essay
Crosley in ‘Wheels Up’ questions human sincerity in dealing with disabled persons using two primary tones that reflect her attitude on the subject. The writer is functionally resentful in her presentation, expressing it with certain expressions in her writing like, ‘In a huff…’. Not only do the actions of the man offend the writer, but they also offset her feelings about the disabled woman, which results in her judgment of the woman during her walk in search of a cab. In addition to resentment, the writer also exhibits a sarcastic tone in downplaying social etiquette’s significance. She somehow sees decorum as overrated and even says, “Seeing as how my plane will definitely crash If I steal a cab from a woman in wheelchair…”. The statement mocks the consequences with which indecency contravening social decorum are associated, making light of the societal need for social order perception.
Narrative Devices in Use
Like the accomplished writer she is, Crosley uses various devices in presenting her as regarding the difference in ways with which disabled persons are treated. She aptly uses symbolism to depict the foulness of the woman in the wheelchair accurately. The dog that the antagonist rides on her tail symbolizes loyalty and friendship, and for that reason, the actions of the disabled woman seem even more callous. The writer also applies exaggeration to indicate the levels of tolerance accorded to disabled persons and the power associated with that courtesy. She equates a society without polite recognition of the need to treat the disabled, especially to one in which there is little regard for anything else except money. In addition to exaggeration and symbolism, her imagery application is exquisite on many occasions, which include the statement, “…a cab drifts in our direction.” All these devices serve to increase the quality of the narrative and add to its audience appeal. The devices serve to depict the Essay’s information and provoke an appropriate emotional reaction to the content (Hartberg, 2020).
References
Hartberg, Y. (2020). Literary Devices and the Power of Story.
Massey, A. (2018). LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE Essays.