Vazquez 1 Alysha Vazquez Mr.

Newman English 101: Rhetoric 30 October 2013 Happy Endings As I open the pages of a brand new Vogue magazine I am immediately welcomed into a world of high fashion. With each page there is a glamorous new ad and a beautiful model dressed in expensive designer clothes. Vogue is not just filled with pretty pictures though, it regularly includes articles about empowered or independent women. In the May 2013 issue of VOGUE, author Edna OBrien expresses how she was able to use words to find herself after a troubling marriage in her article Splendid Isolation. By providing insight on her dysfunctional marriage through emotional appeal, OBrien is able to successfully portray that her unfortunate events helped shaped her as a meaningful writer. In Edna OBriens, Splendid Isolation she writes about her troubling marriage which results in a divorce. OBrien begins by expressing that she observes early signs of tensions between her and her husband when arguments flare, due to small details in her books. Their marriage is followed by constant silence and tension. OBrien must endorse and hand over all checks that came from publishers to her husband. OBrien describes the moment of boiling point in her marriage. OBrien openly defied her husband for the first time when she informed him that she had not signed the check and wasnt planning to. Enraged he stated that the marriage was over, blaming it on her boasting ambition. He advised her to endorse the check if she wanted to continue to see her children and OBrien refused. Her husband clasped his hands around her

Vazquez 2 throat. By means of pathos, OBrien is able to describe her troubling marriage and how she uncovers her true passion of writing. The use of pathos is introduced when OBrien happily leaves a copy of her book at the table for her husband to read. Her action implies that she is proud in her work and wants to share her happiness. Her husbands only response to her novel was You can write and I will never forgive you (118). In making this comment, her husband adds to the tension of the marriage and to OBriens anguish. This statement also reveals that OBrien, regardless if the writing is negative or positive, is able to express her true self through her writing. OBrien questions whether or not to endorse the check to her second book over to her husband. OBrien reveals that she was paralyzed by her own fears (118). The relationship between her and her husband is filled with fear and disappointment. OBrien is in complete terror when her husband looks at her with is fiery eyes and furiously comes at her fully intending to choke her. His actions are explained by the reason the marriage was over. He argued that OBrien had killed their marriage with her vaunting ambition (118). OBriens ambition is only to be a successful and meaningful writer, but her husband believed her writing to be deceitful. Her success seemed to fuel his rage. Ethos is also disclosed. OBrien establishes credibility by revealing that the envelope that contained a large check that was for the film rights to her second novel. This statement gives insight that OBrien is an increasingly successful writer. Pathos is emphasized during the custody trouble of their two young children, Carlo and Sasha. According to her husband, OBriens writing reeked of perverts and lunacy (120), hence why he did not want the children into the room where OBrien wrote. Consequently, her husband can no longer stand the custody battle and resides expressing that the children are yours to destroy (122). OBrien gains custody of the children and reveals that she is no longer

Vazquez 3 afraid. The title of the article itself Splendid Isolation supports that OBrien is happier alone. OBrien explains writing as mysterious. OBrien believes that writing comes out of afflictions, out of the gouged times, when the heart is cut open (120). In this case, OBriens heart had been cut open. She shed tears that touched on inner feelings she was unaware of. In this article, OBrien successfully uses emotional appeal to covey that as a result of a troubling divorce, she discovers that she is happy when she is writing novels. Moreover, OBrien demonstrates that she finds complete enjoyment when she is able to express herself I her writing. OBriens noted credibility ensures the reader that she is a professional female writer.

Vazquez 4 Works Cited O'Brien, Edna. "Splendid Isolation." Vogue May 2013: 112-22. Print.
Purpose (20): Successful (A+ thru B): As stated in the Norton, Your goal in analyzing a text is to lead readers through careful examination [considering the rhetorical situation] of the text to some kind of interpretation or reasoned judgment Genre (20): Successful (A+ thru B): Exhibits a strong understanding of academic discourse Contains a thesis that argues for a particular reading of the article Demonstrates insightful evaluation Design/Layout (20): Successful (A+ thru B): Incorporates MLA formatting correctly A Works Cited page is formatted correctly and appears at the end of the essay Audience (20): Successful (A+ thru B): Uses vocabulary appropriate for a college audience Uses grammar and punctuation appropriate for a college freshman Assumes a level of intelligence and sophistication for the audience Offers an intriguing analysis of the article Stance (20): Successful (A+ thru B): Makes an argument for a specific reading of the article Clearly evaluates the success or failure of the article in achieving its purpose Thesis is supported effectively with examples from the text Includes a consistent tone that presents the authors take on the article