Analysis of Emma Knight

Analysis of Emma Knight Author Stud Terkel was a writer, who represented class conflicts in a deceptive style, allowing the facts and people he interviewed to speak for themselves. Previously, he acted on stage and television, hosted a radio program and compiled several books. In Miss U.S.A, Terkel writes the story of Emma Knight using irony. If the modeling agency would not have convinced Emma to join the beauty pageant, then she would not have gained more confidence in herself. In the beginning, there was a dream of glamour, convivial, adventure, and pure contentment. For a certain little girl, the thought of the dream was simply that…a thought. The adolescent Emma Knight watched the American dream on television but never thought of herself being in the dream. “For many girls who enter the contest, its part of the American dream, “It was never mine.” As Emma seasoned, she didn't feel satisfied with herself. “Soon I’m hitting my adolescence, like fourteen, but I’m not doing any dating and I’m feeling awkward and ugly.” She also didn't like how magazines told girls to subvert their interests if you had a crush. Emma signed to a modeling agency after college, and did acting for commercials. Her agent wanted her to apply to be in a beauty pageant, but Emma was apprehensive because of her lack of inner strength. “No, uh-uh, never, never, never. I’ll lose, how humiliating.” Little did Emma know she would win two times and become an influence on so many girls, who also wanted the dream. Emma learned that she must be gratified and content for what she has or will get. The lion’s share of people cannot get what they want, but we can get what we need. At the end of it all, we must spare no effort for our dream and make the scene. Emma has to do what she likes and not force what she doesn’t like.