Preview

Why I Want a Wife

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
595 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why I Want a Wife
Neshell Tucker
Module 4/ SLP
English 101
December 2, 2012
Dr. Glen Baxley

Why I Want a Wife
In Judy Brady’s personal essay,” I Want a Wife,” she explains why she would want a wife. In her essay she was trying to teach the unmarried and the married women the role of an uncomplicated wife. Everyone wished they had someone to do things for them. Brady is letting you know she dreams a wife should be. She wants a wife so that she can be independent, take care of the children, physical needs and sexual pleasure. Brady also put out a list of things that most women do when they have the duty o a wife, for instance taking care of the children, doing things around the house that need to be done, working for herself and supporting her husband while he goes to school.
Judy Brady use different words and ways to get the reader attention. She uses words to make sure she get her point across by describing what she wants in a wife and the things that she want her wife and the things that she want her wife to take care of. For example, “I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife duty.” Judy believes that every man expects or depends on his wife to take care of everything while they do nothing. In the whole essay” I want a wife” is used in different things that a wife should do. I know that the word “I” is also used several times to show that the husband is only thinking about himself. The selfishness that I am referring to is when she states, “I want a wife who will work and send me to school.” Also “I want a wife who will clean up after me.”
One of the rhetorical devices that this essay uses is repetition. This is used to show the selfish view of a husband and young men that pictures a wife that would do everything for them. Brady used repetition of words to make her ideas stronger, while repeating the issue that goes on in her own life. She says “I want a wife to clean while I do my studies, plan the menus, make grocery, prepare the meals

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Kincaid uses repetition in many instances throughout her essay. In particular, lines 38-73 demonstrate a perfect example of the rhetorical strategy. She sets up the idea of her eating an English breakfast, and eventually starts listing things individually. By naming an abundant amount of items, and following them by "Made in England," she contributes to her attitude of awe. When specifically saying each…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Janie and Tea Cake stayed in the marshes of Southern Florida to farm on the bean plantations, Tea Cake educated Janie in the ways of shooting a gun hunting. These are both valuable skills to have when you are low on money and in need of food. Tea Cake also had Janie work in the fields with him during the day, which allowed Janie to see what real labor was like. If Tea Cake were ever to leave Janie, she would easily be able to fend for herself with her new knowledge of farming and hunting, two key factors in self-preservation and survival during their time. Hurston is expressing to the reader through these experiences that even though one learns to take care of someone else in marriage, they also learn how to take care of themselves in…

    • 677 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Janie was in an arranged marriage with Logan Killicks, a financially stable, crop-owning farmer. Janie believed love revolved around marriage, but she was greatly disappointed when she had realized what a fool she was to be so naïve. Logan was soon exempted from what Janie believed to be true love. “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman” (Hurston, 25). After marrying Logan, Janie was forced to work like a slave because Logan viewed Janie as what a “typical wife” would do with and for their husband; work, clean, and cook. The internal racism led Janie to feel like a tool of her husband, to use and abuse only for his working matters. “Her [Nanny] dreams of a better life …ended…Nanny transferred her hopes to Janie” (SparkNotes Editors). Nanny believed a woman will become successful if she married a wealthy man and “sat on the front porch” all day. Nanny did not realize her mentality was battling reality. Nanny’s fantasy of good living contradicted with what Janie had to do; work alongside her husband in the…

    • 1236 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Edelman’s husband promises her in their wedding vows to be her “partner at home and in life,” but they “stopped feeling like a team” (190). He breaks his promises to her. He works 90 hours a week which leaves him no time to help around the house. As a result, she is trying to contribute to the income, cook, clean the house, and run their child around. She becomes the dominant parent, and she is angry (188). Edelman’s marriage has become exactly what she did not want; she has become her parents. Bartels is also dissatisfied. He says they should have known what they were getting themselves into, but he “thinks we missed the some of the small print” (197). He feels that he cannot do anything right. His cooking does not satisfy her; he does not wash clothes the right way; he cannot even load the dishwasher correctly. Bartels does not receive credit for the work that he does; instead, his wife lashes out for no reason…

    • 1346 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “My Problem With Her Anger” husband and father, Eric Bartels expresses the wearisome, and subjection encountered from household work. He feels compelled by his wife's unappreciated views for his efforts and willingness to assist around their home. “What gets me, though, is how little credit I get for the effort” (MPWHA, 438). Like any individual assisting with chores or activities, the relevance to receive appreciation is vital. Most individuals enjoy positive feedback for their work, such as household work. Transitioning more into the consistent apathetic tone from his wife, Bartels makes the assumption that the issue maybe his wife’s temper, and women's tendency of not being equip with their anger management. “...the more important issue: Controlling the monstrous effects...In other words, buck up,” (MPWHA, 439). Although it is relevant that Bartels attempts to support his stance, he fails to provide more of his own flaws and weaknesses. Such as putting dirty…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Brady states throughout her essay reasons why she would want a wife, making them very bold and easily understood. “I want a wife to take care of my physical needs.”(525) and “I want a wife who will keep my clothes cleaned, ironed, and mended…” (525) are just a couple of reasons Brady gives for wanting a wife. Women in the 70s were often looked at as almost subhuman, making them stand up and speak for themselves. Brady clearly does not want a wife of her own, but is merely trying to make a bold statement to readers of this magazine. In doing so, she is trying to help the reader understand how hard a wife works and how easily they are taken for granted.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the 1970’s, the fight for women’s suffrage was a major highlighted impact amongst the nation as women everywhere fought for their equality with men. Within this time, women were considered to be obligated to take of the family and the home without any gratitude. Judy Brady effectively points this out to the readers of Ms. Magazine in 1972, where she publishes an article that opens eyes across the nation. In her article, “Why I Want a wife,” Brady uses techniques such as pathos to discuss her duties as a wife and to show the unfairness and inequality that her position upholds.…

    • 292 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Logan Killicks was Janie’s first husband and only arranged marriage. He was a wealthy man who could provide for her, which is just what Nanny wanted for her, but Janie thought otherwise. She shows her disproval of Logan, “The vision of Logan Killicks was desecrating the pear tree, but Janie didn’t know how to tell Nanny that” (Hurston 14). Stability is not the only thing Janie is looking for in a man. She wants to have fun and love her husband, not just feel useless. Janie just could not see herself loving Logan, even though she wanted to, since Nanny approved of Logan. “She knew now that marriage did not make love” (Hurston 25). The way Logan treats Janie is almost neglectful. He hardly ever admires or gives attention to her. “Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. He had ceased to wonder at her long black hair and finger it” and he also makes it very clear that he wants her to work “‘You done been spoilt rotten”’ (Hurston 26). Janie is a wife, not a field hand. She will do the household chores, but she is not about to do a man’s job or work the plow. Janie is not interested in the slightest bit to do any kind of favors for Logan. He shouldn’t expect her to work for him. She is almost useless as a wife, especially since she does not love him. This marriage just didn’t work out, after all, there was nothing holding it together…

    • 982 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Janie’s life allows readers to wonder if marriage leads to love. In Janie’s first two marriages she expects to to grow from them. The first one in particular shows that the person must love the person before you decide to marry them. At the beginning of the relationship, she feels nothing for her husband. She even asks her her grandmother if she will find love in this. These events answer the question by saying no, it is not possible to find love in a marriage if it does not already exists. The portion of the novel allows readers to understand the story line in the sense that love is hard to find, and the person may need to let go of their significant other if it was not there in the first place.…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the passages from Jane Austen's story a business like, unemotional argument is made as to why Mr. Collins, a clergyman, would like to be married. In a analytical tone he matter-of-factly states his reasons for why he should be married. He lists each reason one by one how it would benefit him. "My reasons for marrying are first…" He states that first he believes a clergyman like himself should be married as an "example" to his parish. He goes on to state that it would make him happy and would also make his "patroness" happy. This patroness is a woman from his parish who supports and protects him. Mr. Collins, the suitor, is then offered by this patroness, a woman who would fit the mold of a clergyman's wife to propose marriage to. This woman would be happy living off a small salary. She would be able to make things "go a good way." This perfect woman would be a wife who would be quiet and obedient, as a wife of a clergyman should be. She would be compelled not only live up to high standards, but be impressive to others. This woman would be eloquent and a stately woman. Mr. Collins is a practical man and as it is shown in the story, believes marriage is not about love but for convenience and for stature. He feels forced to marry because it is the socially acceptable thing to do. Throughout the story Mr. Collin's choice of words and his attitude conveys his true feelings on marriage. His wife must live up to unrealistic standards.…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The United States in the 1970s was a jumbled place to live in, the feminist movement was just getting underway and would became one of the most influential feminists movement to this day. Judy Brady wrote “Why I Want a Wife” in 1972 and published it to Ms.Magazine. This was a monumental step towards women's rights; however, women would not get the rights they wanted till later. In “Why I Want a Wife”, Judy Brady uses pathos, emotional appeal, to relate to the audience on a emotional level and show them the ignorance men were showing towards their rights.…

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Judy Brady’s essay, “I Want a Wife” was first published in Ms. Magazine in 1971 in support of the feminist movement; initially the essay was written in the hopes that it would create public awareness of the unfair expectations created by the wife stereotype. During the 1970’s American popular culture, women seemed to have no identity besides that of being a family caretaker. In fact, the mere idea of a woman procuring a career was seen as a radical notion throughout the course of history. In addition to being the family caretaker, the wife was generally expected that after a woman had earned her desired education she was to marry, have children and become a loyal servant to her family. Moreover, this expectation was engrained in the minds of the American public by way of popular television shows like “Leave it to Beaver”, which projected the prototypical image of what a wife was expected to be inside the living room of every home. Along with the wife being expected to be the loyal servant, she was also anticipated to be sensitive to the husband's sexual needs. For example, the wife was expected to have sex with her husband even if she was tired or not in the mood. These projections became the accepted norm of how a woman should represent herself once she became a wife/mother. That is, society thinks that the responsibilities of raising children and maintaining a stable home are often solely placed upon the wife; however this kind of stability can only be upheld with the help of the husband and wife together.…

    • 1263 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why I Want A Wife

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages

    When I think of a person who is doing all the chores and tasks, such as laundry, cooking and cleaning that person no other than a wife. In my perspective, the idea of a partner is different to what Brady’s description. In Brady’s essay “I Want a Wife”, she describes the duties of the typical wife would have to do for the family. She explains that the wife is expected to take care of the house, the children and keeping husband satisfied in life such as; dealing with physical, mental, social and sexual needs (636). Compare to Brady’ description of a wife instead, the wife has to do all of the housework, my idea of a spouse is when taking care of housework, both husband and wife should help each others. Unlike to Brady’s wife, my type of wife should…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    She wrote an essay on her thoughts of men to hopefully make a change in another woman’s life and I wrote my thoughts about a baby in the role of a teacher and how it changed her. Brady’s long list mentions, “I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after me,” all showing how selfish and traditional thinking men are, opening the eyes of all wives and in the end helping them (Brady, 58). I took that same long list feature and imitated it by using, “I want a baby who will depend on me and I on them. I want a baby that will be waiting for me at home. A baby that will be waiting for love,” which all changes how the teacher felt about babies and how at the end she realizes how much she wants a baby. I also mimicked her ironic and goal orientated tone she used in “I Want a Wife” to help make my “I Want a Baby” parody essay. In Brady’s essay she was really ironic in the way she claimed to be a wife yet wrote about how she wanted a wife. Not only that, but also wrote on how good wives are and at the same time was protesting it. I also incorporated that into my essay by adding how the teacher already had “too many kids” but still wanted one of her own. I also shared the same goal-oriented style Brady used to get what she wanted. Brady used hers to focus on spreading her feminist views and I used mine to get a teachers baby fever thoughts…

    • 1798 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why Did I Get Married

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Did I Get Married?, – the newest film from writer/director/producer/star Tyler Perry – follows four married couples during an annual weeklong reunion, where they discuss marital issues and counseling exercises.…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays