Why I Want a Wife

Weddings be a nigh deal a eon of celebration, especiall(a)(a)y for my family. This past summer, as we prep atomic number 18d for my sister Ginis wedding, the festivities extended to ethical-natured teasing of the bride- and groom-to-be. For example, WITH k todaying grins, my p atomic number 18ntsself-proclaimed experts on uniting courtesy of their own wedding almost thirty days ag wizarddispensed advice ab come on everything, including how to improve her cooking skills beyond instant strain and grilled cheese. Ginis distinctive responses included That was a long time ago, Things are different now times accommodate changed, and Jason can do a lot of things for himself. It was with particular delight that my family took to rubbing in one of Jasons smoother moves. He waited until a few short weeks onwardshand the wedding to inform Gini that his Mom had al shipway done his ironing for him, and now he expected Gini to take over that task later on all, he couldnt wear wrink led garment to his bare-assed job, could he? trailer variation at the responsibilities manifold in marriage is similar to the post presented in Judy Bradys 1971 bear witness, Why I require a Wife. In Why I Want a Wife, Brady offers hypothetical criteria for an perfection married woman in a satiric chin-waggingary on how the crap of wives is often taken for granted.The humor of the essay lies in its structure on the dig up it looks to accept the criteria it puts forth, while the meaning influenceually operates in the recognition that the storyteller is organism sarcastic. Using writing as one of her tools for activism, Judy (Syfers) Brady has established herself as a supporter of the womens movement since she began more than thirty years ago. In Why I Want a Wife, she narrates a oscilloscope that mocks the situations and obligations wives find themselves immersed in. The teller draws on her own experiences to present examples of how good wives are expected to be st upefy.The satirical critique emerges as the fabricator thinks through and through her reasons for missing a married woman. The language use has a satirical edge discernible in both the authors emphasis on current modifiers (indicated by italics) and in the sur caseful structure of the sentences, which belies the underlying criticisms. The reference should recognize the sarcasm from the language and attitude of the narrator. Now lets consider all the elements back up her satirical peak, buzz offning with the authors long history with this style of writing.Judy (Syfers) Brady has established herself as a supporter of the womens movement, and critics point to this essay as typical of her career. Throughout the article, Brady lists characteristics that she would alike in a married womanShe never comes out and says that the way that women are treated in family situations is wrong. She implies it by sarcastically creating her ideal married woman. This technique works because it forces transformers to realize it for themselves writes Diego Vasquez on a webpage titled A Rhetorical Critique of Why I Want a Wife. 2 Vasquezs analysis includes the supposition that the essay first appeared in leaflet form, and suggests that Brady was a radical feminist writing for other radical feminists. Vasquez to a fault notes that Brady is reported to have said, I am married, am a housemarried woman, and have two female children all three of those factors keep my anger alive, and that Brady try to persuade other housewives to take a step back and apprehend at how they were being exploited. Judy Syfers Brady, who was born in 1931 and later studied at the University of Iowa, now lives in San Francisco. In 1972, Why I Want a Wife appeared in the first issue of Ms. 3 Although at that time, few critics expected the magazine to last4, almost twenty years later it (re-) feature Why I Want a Wife. 5 Another decade later, almost thirty years after the essay first appeared in Ms. , Ms. Brady is still active in womens movements. Her more recent work can be found in Greenpeace Magazine6 and in the Womens recap of Books. 7 Through all these works and faultfinding commentary on it, we can see her just aboutbodyal focus on make a rigid case for the feminist cause.Much as her personal life story informs her recent article in the Womens Review of Books, Judy Brady appears to have drawn on her own experiences when she wrote Why I Want a Wife. In the essay, the author/narrator drives inhabitancy the amount and pillow slip of work expected of wives both by situating herself as involved in some it and by listing qualifications. In my hearing, the setting of the over-worked housewife allow take the form of the narrator both being much(prenominal) a wife and of describing such as wife through mimicry.To indicate this setting, I pull up stakes use actions to reinforce the narrators words. For example, at the beginning, in the clause while I was ironing, the narrator slips in that she thought through her argument while engaged in domestic labor. When I read that line, I go away rail a consider at the auditory sense that conveys mediocre how thrilled I am to be pressing clothes. Which is to say, my case take off out suggest that yet again, while I was doing one of my many thankless jobs, I was thinking about that poor guy.A gage way I intend to suggest the setting is to give the audience a withering look while I use my ripe(p) hand to pick up and put away speculative things as I read the lines I fatality a wife who exit keep my house bully. A wife who pass on pick up after my children, a wife who leave behind pick up after me. I deficiency a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who will see to it that my personal things are kept in their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it. Later, to manoeuvre the perfect wife being the perfect hostess, I will offer up imaginary number hors doeuvres with a graceful sweep of my hand when read the clause I loss a wife who takes care of the necessarily of my guests so that they feel comfort fitting, who makes authorized that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors doeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is aidd to them as they like it. The gracefulness of the movement will hopefully reinforce the wife-seekers conception of womanly social skills in addition to suggesting and mimicking an actual setting where hors doeuvres are being offered. Also, to follow up that line and to show that the coffee is just right, I will bring up my right hand, holding my fingers folded down, excerpt for my thumb and index finger, which will be touching at the imaginary point of perfection. This movement will signify the (anal) expectations about a wifes responsibilities.In all these ways the author s relationship to the setting supports the point of the essay through a performance of the characters satirical tone. As a character, the narrator has chosen to view these (anal) expectations in a humorous, satirical light. To show this mark of a sharp mind and wit, I will read every line in light mockery. This sweet little wifey has a biting way of deftly masking her meaning in unreasonable agreement. The criticisms of the narrator arent malicious, but they are satirical, and I hope to escort that ridicule in my reading.I imagine the narrator as individual with self-confidence and poise, dignified even in undignified circumstances, and I image to portray that by standing upright, neither puffed with arrogance nor slumped with despair. That is how I will stand, too, when I read the brief paragraph on replenishment the hypothetical wife (If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one.Naturally, I will expect a fresh new life my wife will take the children and be solely obligated for them so that I am left free. ) For that paragraph, I will meet the tone of a martyr, as if the wife-seeker is sacrificing him(/her)self for the well-being of the universe. Also, to show the narrator as parodying the self-centered concerns of a wife-seeker, I will gesture toward myself, occasionally pose my hand below the base of my throat, end-to-end my reading.This movement will direct wariness to the self who is self-centered and will be a wee melodramatic, as can be expected of someone who is over-acting to make entertainment of another persons selfishness. And, to further express the overall satire of the essay, I will try to keep the hint of a smile (a dubious, critical smile-not a self-satisfied one) on my face. This smirk should put a sarcastic edge on my reading as the character considers all the benefits of having a wife which she would like to enjoy. t hinking about and sarcastically exhibition on the thankless duties expected of good wives is how I envision the growth of this pieces action. I syllabus to show this action of Thinking in several ways. One way is to pretend as though I, the narrator, think some of my ideas are super, such as I want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children, who arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an adequate social life with their peers, takes them to the park, the zoo, etc. ).I will try to keep a fake, bland smile on my face to suggest how nice, easy, and convenient it must be to be able to hope on someone else for such tasks. Another way I will demonstrate the narrators thought processes will be to act as though some of my ideas have just occurred to me, including the somewhat stochastic I want a wife who will type my paper for me when I have written them. I will pause before that line and try to look thoughtful before coming to the revealing that that wo uld be quite handy.An additional way to indicate the narrators thinking will be to vocally (not verbally) suggest that some of my ideas are onerous duties I have long since grown tired of doing, such as When I meet people at school that I like and want to entertain, I want a wife who will have the house clean, will prepare a special meal, serve it to me and my friends, and not interrupt when I talk about things that interest me and my friends. I will adopt a haughty, superior tone to deliberately come after how I have been told, in effect, to lower myself.Showing this process of reflecting on the expectations for wives will help to foster the sense of mockery the narrator employs throughout her satirical litany. This satire and sarcasm is evident in the language used even at the beginning of the piece, and I plan to play it up. For example, when I read the second line (I am A Wife. ), I will say I ammholding the M slightly hourlong than necessary for emphasis-before I punctuating A Wife with a demure smile to indicate the sublime pleasure I derive from the this, the most fulfilling of distaff roles.Also on A Wife, I will lower my vocalise to further emphasize the depth and fullness of my appreciation for my position. I plan this obviously exaggerated infusion of wife-dom with positive connotations to set up the satirical attitude toward wife in the rest of the piece. . Some other ways I plan to use the language of the essay to drive home the narrators voice is to take advantage of the authors locations of emphasis. In two places, the author has italicized my when she writes my physical needs and my sexual needs. In those two places I will particularly stress my to reflect the earnestness of the selfishness being described, and I will gesture toward myself. The author has also italicized the good in I want a wife who cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook. I will vocally stress the good and I will make an Mmmm face (quick raising of my eyebrows while sunny with my lips closed) to reflect the authors intentional emphasis. These actions should help to make the satirical intention of the speaker clear to the audience.Making the sarcasm/satire of the narrator clear to the audience will be an essential part of my performance. To instal the sarcasm in the opening, I will look over the audiences heads, almost at an imaginary star that represents how inattentive my life as a wife is and how happy I am at my good fortune of being married when I read the lines I belong to that classification of people known as wives. I am A Wife. And, not al together incidentally, I am a mother. Of course, this dreamy look will be an act on behalf of the narrator, who is making fun of anyone who in truth believes that that is the sum of how she feels. In the next paragraph, I will look at the audience as I brace them for my diatribe. I will be giving them a semi-serious look, with my eyebrows raised in a speculative way, that matches the narrators dr y tone. From this look, the audience should infer that the narrator actually judges her friend, or people like the friend, much harsher than the words being used would imply.Further into the essay, there is the paragraph about sexual needs (I want a wife who is sensitive to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love passionately and eagerly when I feel like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied. And, of course, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it. I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children. I want a wife who will remain sexually faithful to me so that I do not have to clutter up my intellectual life with jealousies.And I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may mean more than strict adherence to monogamy. I must, after all, be able to relate to people as fully as possible. ) When I begin that paragraph, I will give the audience a saucy, playful look. The n, I will look eager (chin and eyebrows raised, expectant smile) when I speak of making love eagerly, and I will look stubborn (eyebrows lowered, negative handshaking of my head) for when I am not in the mood. Although I will have maintained appropriate eye-contact throughout the reading, at the end, with the final sentence (My God, who wouldnt want a wife? ), I will pin the audience with a piercing look, looking them straight in the eye, as if to say, Well, duh , when the narrators true voice finally speaks. These actions should connect the audience straightway to the progression of thought and satire as the speaker leads up to and makes her strong concluding statement. Judy Brady has strong opinions about what shouldnt be automatically presumed as a wifes obligations. Her opinion influenced her essay Why I Want a Wife, wherein she introduces the reader to an overworked housewifes reasons for wanting a wife of her own.This housewife/narrator cleverly uses language to comment on the condition of wives by verbally condoning what she actually despises. Because the audience will be able to pick up on her sarcasm, they will understand her unsaid message. Although it might be possible to construe Bradys essay as a bitter diatribe against the injustice of the way some wives are subordinated, I prefer to read this piece as the humorous product of a sharp wit, almost like Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal. Usually, when I read over this essay, a smirk finds its way to my face-the same kind of smirk I feel beginning when I think back to the proud phone call my family current after my newlywed sister Gini succeeded in making meatloaf all by herself. Maybe Gini was right in those days before her wedding when she anticipated that things would be different for her and Jason, and that the two of them would share household responsibilities. They seem to be equally experiencing the hazards of cooking. Recently, Gini told us about a kitchen disaster that involved them bo th.Ace-chef that she is, Gini failed to notice that some fresh-from-the-freezer sauerkraut was burning one of her (wedding induct) pans. Jason came to the rescue, though, convinced that he could dispense with the day with his superior knowledge that only inorganic chemicals can clean up burned organic materials. And so, he set about desperately trying the salvage the pan using Ginis nail polish remover. It does my midpoint good to know that the two of them work so well together in the kitchen. Although now I am torn about what to get them for Christmas new cookware? Who knows, maybe Ill get them a restaurant gift certificate.