Lahiri: My Two Lives Taylor Cuddy, Kayla Kelly, Courtney Graham & Paul Halifax

Summary: Thesis: “Like many immigrant offspring I felt immense pressure to be two things, loyal to the old world and fluent in the new, approved of on either side of the hyphen.” “I spoke English without an accent, comprehending the language in a way my parents could not.” “I did not attend Sunday school, did not know how to ice-skate, and disappeared to India for months at a time.”

Audience The people that enjoy and can relate to this article would be people whose families have moves to the United States to form a new life and have trouble due to the American egotistical way of thinking.

Audience Continued: I think that Lahiri uses language that the people reading can relate to. For example when she says “Like many immigrant offspring I felt intense pressure to be two things, loyal to the old world and fluent in the new, approved of on either side of the hyphen.” I feel that I can not personally relate to thins but the intended audience would easily relate. My Two Lives was published in Newsweek Magazine. Being that it was posted in this magazine means that the audience were mostly middle to upper class Americans with jobs that make them relate to people in Lahiri’s situation.

Weakness: To much of one appeal (Pathos) - “..intense pressure to be two things..” - “..one plus one did not equal two..” - etc. Not enough detail about “at home” -Second paragraph (Bengali? Nazrul?) 100 of the same papers - At least in the academic community

Strengths: Appeals to the audience directed to Creditable writer for the topic discussed -because of her past experience Shows emotions in paper -parents will not allow her to be American

Logos, Pathos, Egos “like many immigrant offspring... Be two things…” Using others as examples (logos/ethos) Pressure felt is (logos) Inner struggle permits Sympathy (Pathos) Expressing difficult feelings (Ethos) “ Nazrul songs… clothes my mother wore” Direct examples of difference (ethos & pathos) How she was raised connected Humiliation (pathos) Parents didn’t understand: “outmoded currency” –logos

Logos, Pathos, Egos “They were… removed from the frequently humiliating process of immigration” People could never understand unless in same sit. (Pathos: loneliness) “I felt doomed…” Never fit in or be American (Pathos) 1+1=0 Directly and logically shows inward struggle. Doesn’t make sense. (logos/pathos) Writing as an “Indian- American Brings together both worlds. Be yourself with writing (logos/ pathos: acceptance)

Logos, Pathos, Ethos 1+1=2 Resolves last inconsistency (logos/pathos) Growing up Marriage; accepting who she is and inviting friends into her life. Child seeks perfection: Adult accepts and gains from it (patho) Simile of siblings Great example of differences yet similaries. Sometimes sparring (logos) (pathos) Parents Loss of parents in future (pathos) Cultural connections (logos) Broadens to all cultures, traditions lost (ethos: connecting to others)

Logos, Pathos, Ethos Positives Extreme sympathy from targeted audience. Logically, her dilemmas make sense. Negatives Pathos overpowering to an audience with no or little experience No more specific examples as well as other’s situations to expand on Ethos. Could use more facts/statistics

Conclusion: Overall the ethos, pathos, and logos could have been more equivalent to one another. The overall meaning is directed towards and audience that does not apply to white college students. More examples of her life experiences would help explain her as a person better. The article was too serious and could have used a little humor.