David Foster Wallace has the chance to review a magazine called Gourmet in “Consider the Lobster”. The magazine Gourmet asked David Foster Wallace to write a review of the Maine Lobster Festival, which took place in summer 2003. The review, however, was not what was expected. Instead it focused on morals and ethics in relation to how we hurt lobsters by boiling them. Wallace’s descriptive strategy reveals the animal cruelty issue. The reason this is so important is that many individuals will disregard morals if they are faced with such a situation. The strategy Wallace used and the results it produced can be evaluated to see just how well he portrayed the argument.
Wallace’s argument is to treat all animals with compassion, such as lobsters or other animals that are mentioned. His descriptive strategies are used to emotionally appeal readers by using pathos. The shock is created by describing how delicious the lobsters were at the festival, then finishing with how they are cooked. Wallace continues to back up his argument with images of lobsters feeling pain. We can now see Wallace’s main purpose and the strengths and weakness of his argument. It is more emotional than logical. The image he uses is “how the lobsters are hanging on for dear life just like we would if faced with any kind of threat to our lives”. In his presentation of the argument, he uses clear language. He avoids hidden assumptions. And he defines terms by using footnotes. As he describes how tasty lobsters can be, he then proceeds to explain the importance of morals and ethics. The other side is that taking into consideration both sides does not go far enough to be considered fair. He says, “PETA shows their morals by treating animals with compassion”. However, it seems that the morals are still questionable on the opposing side. Wallace makes his point by using descriptive details. We can better understand the issue of cruelty to animals by using the descriptive approach. His arguments, which he presents using the descriptive strategy, convince us that animals should be treated with compassion. The reader is made aware of the impact we have on all animals when he asks them to imagine cattle being slaughtered. This work helps us think before taking action, and allows questions to come up from our unconscious. If we examine “the seizure of a puppy mill that took place in our locality in February 2016,” for example. This article can be used to make us rethink our views on how terrible it is that animals are treated inhumanely. This article does not answer all of these questions. Therefore, it is less credible.
Wallace’s overall goal is to make the reader understand how important it is that we do not ignore lobsters and treat them as animals. He uses descriptions to help the reader become more aware of our subconscious in relation to how we treat animals. Wallace uses imagery to make the reader feel and visualize the situation, which is what drives him into the story.
