Barbara Lazear Ascher's Essay 'On Compassion'
In the passionate essay, “On Compassion,” by the respected Barbara Lazear Ascher, the author convincingly depicts her view towards how she feels about why people show compassion. Ascher’s purpose is to demonstrate to the reader the different classes of society and allow the reader to think about how people may appear compassionate but naturally have a fear that causes them to carry out compassionate acts. The author effectively and steadfastly builds the essay by utilizing an observant and speculative tone, a series of figurative language and an emotional appeal in order to convey her outlook towards the homeless and compassion.
Ascher opens up her essay by using imagery to describe the appearance of a fellow homeless man. She appeals to the
reader through pathos as she describes the man with a “buttonless shirt, with one sleeve missing” (Ascher 1). Another homeless man is also portrayed similarly, as he “wears a stained blanket pulled up to his chin” and has a “scent of stale cigarettes and urine” (Ascher 7). The author adopts a descriptive and pictorial tone in order to deftly emphasize the image and appearance of the two homeless men. This dismal characterization of these men captivates the reader and allows him or her to draw feelings of remorse and pity.