Assignment #4

     The Book Nickel and Dimed- On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich (published in May 2002), is a magnificent story about Ehrenreich's plan to live the life of a minimum wage American.  She is curious to see what it is like to live on a 7 to 8 dollar an hour salary. As the book goes on you recognize the hardship that comes from living on minimum wage and the many sacrifices people have to make on a day to day basis. The story gives off a very clear message that the author intends to change the perspective of the audience, In life we often take advantage of the many privileges and opportunities we receive, we often forget what its like to work hard to achieve goals and or our dreams.        
     In the book the author uses the literary devices: ethos, pathos and logos to create a very distinct message for the audience. For example though I have already used this quote I feel it is very strong use of logos, “But as I’d learned from my coworkers in Maine-several of whom had spent time in tightly shared space-people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with, typically incompatible relatives and long waits for the bathroom,”(nickelanddimed). As mentioned before people often do not have the same opportunities as others and have to do what they can to make sure their needs are fulfilled. One of those needs is having shelter.
     The author uses pathos to make the audience feel sympathetic and have a change of perspective,“He is the only representative of that better world where people go to college and wear civilian clothes to work and shop on the weekends for fun,”(nickelanddimed). Often we take advantage of the privileges we have in which "we can not go a day without shopping" when others can go a day without food in order to make sure they have shelter. I think this quote is fantastic, it is short but yet carries a deep meaning. That some people only have to worry about getting through school and getting accepted to college. Most people do not have the same opportunity, they have to worry about making a living and supporting themselves or in some cases a family. In which school is not their number one priority, though it is often not their choice to make this decision.
    I believe the target audience that the author is trying to appeal to is every hard working man and woman, who knows what it is like to work for their living. Those who do not receive the recognition they deserve, who are not talked to as though they help make a difference in the business and the world. The reason I think this is the audience the author is trying to appeal to is because of her choice of diction. She uses the word "Pariah" which means outcast. That was used by one of the people she was interviewing, and it creates a big symbol of how they feel the world sees them. She wants people to stop using salary as a determination of social status and notice that almost everyone works for their living.

Bibliography:
(nickelanddimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. Print.