Wal-Martian

Just to recap, this article gives an insight to Wal-Mart and the inequality they exhibit towards their workers. The author spent a time working at Wal-Mart in an effort to see what a "Wal-Martian" worker's life is really like. Overall, this article is to catch the attention of America in an effort to change the terrible inequality shown to Wal-Mart Employees.

When researching this article, I found that the author was very interested in socio- economic differences, and put's forth an effort to help those that suffer from inequality throughout America. Due to this interest, I feel that she went to work at Wal-Mart in an effort to find something wrong, and for information to write her book. Although she may have taken the time to work at Wal-Mart, she failed to realize that this was not the true reality of the situation because at the end of the night she could go home to her comfortable lifestyle. This article was written in an attempt to attract the American audience and gain their sympathy towards Wal-Mart employees. Since many Americans use Wal-Mart as their source of groceries, and other home items, this article appeals to all and makes you feel as though Wal-Mart is "the big bad wolf". It is my personal belief that this article was written in an attempts to help Wal-Mart employees, but in fact I find that it may be more of a hurt than a help to them.

1. Overstatement- The author uses an overstatement to make Wal-Mart look worse than it truly is. At one point she advances to calling Wal-Mart, "the worlds largest sweatshop." This overstatement causes the reader to have misconceptions about Wal-Mart, and to feel guilt for letting this go on before their eyes.
2. Metaphor- A metaphor is used in this article on page 130, the author states that employees at Wal-Mart are like, "a creature afflicted with the appetite of a starved hyena that does not have time for necessities." This statement has an appeal because it is demeaning to Wal-Mart employees by referring to them as animals, she uses this to get the point across that Wal-Mart employees are treated very bad, much like unto an animal. This appeals to the audience's pathos because it makes the audience feel tender towards the employees and want to help so that they are no longer treated this way.
3. Irony- This is used periodically throughout the article, but my favorite quote is the last sentence. It states, "Earth to Wal-Mars, or wherever you come from: Live with us or go back to the mothership." When she says this she doesn't mean that Wal-mart should literally "go back to the mothership" (because this would be impossible), but rather that Wal-Mart needs to learn to set better guidelines for their employees so that they can enjoy a greater quality of life. This appeals to the audience because it provides comedy relief, but also provides them with a statement that will make them remember the ideas mentioned in the article.
4. Denotation- She uses this when she states that Wal-Mart has become, "decentralized." After this word she states that literally this word means it has become out of control. I find that this is one of the only times throughout her article that she is quite serious about something, and think that she provides this as a means to show that this is a serious matter. I also find it interesting that she provides a definition after the word, in which she makes the article understandable and relatable for most readers.
5. Diction- Throughout the article the author uses the word Wal-Martian. I find that this word affects the meaning of the article because it portrays Wal-Mart to be something foreign or non human and is therefore demeaning to humans. Although it gives the article a comic feel, it also provides a demeaning nature towards Wal-Mart and their "Martian" like workers. This appeals to the audience, because at first it provides a funny and interesting title and approach, but as you sit and think about the article you realize that this word was not just used for comic relief, but to show a hurtful approach to Wal-Mart.
6. Allusion- Last but not least, the author uses an allusion in her very first paragraph when she talks about John Kerry and Dick Cheney. Through references to these two political figures, she provides how the government shares two separate views on Wal Mart, and an allusion to how naive they are to the "inequality" that is being portrayed throughout these superstores. Through this tool she attracts an audience's attention because she helps them to realize that even the government is confused about this situation, and unaware of what to do about it.