In her opinion piece “Why the Beach Is a Bummer,” Roxane Gay assumes quite a critical tone in her writing, the purpose of which was not only to criticize the beaches in the US not in terms of their environmental or ecosystem impact but rather in regards to the social pressures it imposes. The conversational and blasé style of writing is perfect for getting the message across to the audience of the opinion piece. The early analysis of the article allowed us to conclude that the author’s claims should not be over-analyzed to search for a deeper meaning since the writing structure is quite open and the author can jump from one message to another.
While it may appear confusing to some, it is the simple and witty writing makes the process of reading it effortless. A closer analysis of the author’s claim and the structure of writing will help illustrate how the examples from the author’s life strengthen the narrative and her personal opinions: “Reading at the beach is an ordeal – trying to find a comfortable position, keeping sand out of the book and sun out of my eyes” (Gay). The author intentionally uses enumeration in her writing to make the arguments more convincing to the audience.
The author’s writing effectively achieves the purpose mentioned above because the statements that she makes are something with which people can connect. While everyone’s experiences at the beach are different, there is at least something with which the audience can agree. For women specifically, the pressure of having a perfect body is a challenge that many have encountered, which is why it is hard not to support the author’s opinions on this point. “Why the Beach Is a Bummer” is written in a way as if it is a friend ranting about their experiences, which makes the peace very comforting.
Reference
Gay, R. (2014). Why the beach is a bummer. The New York Times. Web.