Marley and Me, Week 2, Post A

VOCAB
Bucolic (87)- pertaining to shepherds

Recalcitrant (91)- resisting authority, hard to deal with

APPEALS
“Marley attacked his tail, spinning wildly, his jaws snapping at thing air, and in the process he wrapped the leash around Jenny’s ankles until she was fully immobilized” (61). The first part of this is a comic appeal. I can just imagine how all of the other people in the dog obedience class would have laughed at Marley making such a fool of himself. But at the same time, the people would have been concerned for Jenny’s safety.

“He could not possibly have gone down with more gusto had a mortar shell just exploded behind him” (67). This is a logical appeal, because the reader can imagine exactly how Marley went to the down position. He didn’t just lay down softly, he went to the ground with a thud and passion!

“Marley, standing amid the carnage of his desperate escape attempt, was in a complete, panic-stricken lather. He was so pathetic she couldn’t bring herself to yell at him” (69). This is an emotional appeal because the reader feels pity for Marley since he was so filled with fear. Also, the fact that Jenny couldn’t yell at Marley because he looked so pathetic pulls the heart strings of the reader.

QUOTE
“Some days I felt like Anne Sullivan to Marley’s Helen Keller” (56). John feels like he is the only guidance in Marley’s life. Helen Keller was blind and deaf, and had to overcome, or at least deal with these obstacles in her life. Anne Sullivan was Helen’s teacher and also had a vision impairment. Together they had to work through their obstacles to fit into society. John also feels a certain obligation to teaching Marley, because in public Marley definitely sticks out with his horrible behavior.

THEME
One of the most prominent themes in the novel is that a person should never give up, just because obstacles come his or her way. At times life is hard, but there are always better situations to follow.