Why I Want a Wife

Weddings argon lots a eon of celebration, especially for my family. This past summer, as we prepared for my sister Ginis wedding, the festivities extended to good-natured teasing of the bride- and groom-to-be. For example, WITH knowing smiles, my parentsself-proclaimed experts on marriage tact of their own wedding roughly thirty age agodispensed advice to the highest degree everything, including how to improve her provision skills beyond instant rice and grilled cheese. Ginis typical responses included That was a pertinacious time ago, Things are different now times score changed, and Jason brook do a lot of things for himself. It was with peculiar(prenominal) delight that my family took to rubbing in one of Jasons smoother moves. He waited until a few in picture weeks before the wedding to inform Gini that his Mom had al offices done his ironing for him, and now he judge Gini to contemplate over that task after(prenominal) all, he couldnt wear wrinkled clothes to his sore job, could he? Poking period of play at the responsibilities involved in marriage is similar to the attitude passed in Judy Bradys 1971 fag endvass, wherefore I Want a Wife. In Why I Want a Wife, Brady offers hypothetical criteria for an ideal married woman in a satirical commentary on how the work of wives is often taken for granted.The humor of the essay lies in its structure on the surface it attends to accept the criteria it designates forth, musical composition the essence rattling operates in the recognition that the bank clerk is cosmos sarcastic. Using piece of music as one of her tools for activism, Judy (Syfers) Brady has effected 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 setting that mocks the situations and obligations wives find themselves immersed in. The vote counter draws on her own experiences to present examples of how good wives are expected to be call for.T he satirical critique emerges as the narrator thinks through her reasons for motiveing a wife. The language utilise has a satirical edge evident in both(prenominal) the pens emphasis on certain modifiers (indicated by italics) and in the surface structure of the sentences, which belies the underlying criticisms. The reference should fill in the sarcasm from the language and attitude of the narrator. Now lets consider all the elements supporting her satirical meridian, beginning 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 like in a wifeShe 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 wife. This technique works because it forces readers to realize it for themselve s 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 pamphlet form, and suggests that Brady was a radical feminist writing for other radical feminists. Vasquez also notes that Brady is reported to have said, I am married, am a toleratewife, and have two female children all three of those factors keep my anger alive, and that Brady tried to persuade other housewives to take a step back and look at how they were being exploited. Judy Syfers Brady, who was born in 1931 and later stick outvas 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-) featured 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 mo re recent work can be found in Greenpeace Magazine6 and in the Womens Review of Books. 7 Through all these works and critical commentary on it, we can see her someoneal focus on making a salubrious case for the feminist cause. frequently as her personal life informs her recent article in the Womens Review of Books, Judy Brady appears to have raddled on her own experiences when she wrote Why I Want a Wife. In the essay, the author/narrator drives base the amount and type of work expected of wives both by situating herself as involved in nigh it and by listing qualifications. In my reading, the setting of the over-worked housewife go forth take the form of the narrator both being such(prenominal) a wife and of describing such as wife through mimicry.To indicate this setting, I go out 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 domesti c labor. When I read that ancestry, I ordain direct a look at the audience that conveys however how stimulate I am to be pressing clothes. Which is to say, my look will suggest that yet again, while I was doing one of my many thankless jobs, I was thinking about that poor guy.A second way I intend to suggest the setting is to give the audience a withering look while I use my business surpass to pick up and put away imaginary things as I read the lines I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after my children, a wife who will pick up after me. I want 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 bear witness the perfect wife being the perfect hostess, I will offer up imaginary hors doeuvres with a graceful mat of my hand when read the clause I want a wife who takes care of the n eeds of my guests so that they feel comfort equal to(p), who makes undisputable that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors doeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their fuddle glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it. The gracefulness of the movement will hopefully reinforce the wife-seekers founding of feminine social skills in addition to suggesting and mimicking an actual setting where hors doeuvres are being offered. Also, to pass up that line and to show that the coffee is just right, I will bring up my right hand, holding my fingers folded down, except 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 shipway the authors relationship to the setting supports the point of the essay through a performance of the characters satirical tone. As a charact er, the narrator has chosen to view these (anal) expectations in a humorous, satirical light. To show this mark of a aggressively mind and wit, I will read every line in light mockery. This sweet smaller wifey has a biting way of deftly masking her meaning in false agreement. The criticisms of the narrator arent malicious, but they are satirical, and I hope to project that satire in my reading.I imagine the narrator as someone with self-confidence and poise, dignified even in undignified circumstances, and I plan to stage 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 replacing 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 refreshful in the altogether life my wife will take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free. ) For that paragraph, I will assume 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 laying my hand below the base of my throat, throughout my reading.This movement will direct attention to the self who is self-centered and will be a trifle melodramatic, as can be expected of someone who is over-acting to make fun of another persons selfishness. And, to further express the overall satire of the essay, I will undertake to keep the hint of a smirk (a dubious, critical smirk-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.Thinking about and sarcastically expounding on the thankless duties expected of good wives is how I envision the development of this pieces action. I plan 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 initiateing, 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 rely 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 random I want a wife who will type my papers for me when I have written them. I will pause before that line and try to look careful before coming to the revelation that that would be quite handy.An additional way to indicate the narrators thinking will be to vocally (not verbally) suggest that some of my ide as are onerous duties I have long since grown tired of doing, such as When I meet race 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 inte lay me and my friends. I will adopt a haughty, superior tone to deliberately imitate how I have been told, in effect, to lower myself.Showing this process of falling on the expectations for wives will help to foster the maven 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 jolly longer than necessary for emphasis-before I punctuating A Wife with a demure smile to indicate the rarefied pleasure I derive from the this, the most fulfilling of feminine roles.Also on A Wife, I w ill lower my voice to further emphasize the depth and fullness of my appreciation for my position. I plan this apparently 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(a) 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 familiar needs. In those two places I will particularly stress my to polish the intensity 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 smiling 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. devising the sarcasm/satire of the narrator clear to the audience will be an essential part of my performance. To offer the sarcasm in the opening, I will look over the audiences heads, almost at an imaginary star that represents how dreamy 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 sorting of mess known as wives. I am A Wife. And, not altogether 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 actually 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 dry 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 sleep with 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 province 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 smother up my intellectual life with jealousies.And I want a wife who ascertains that my sexual needs may entail 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. Then, 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 shake 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, aspect them straight in the eye, as if to say, Well, duh , when the narrators true voice finally speaks. These actions should connect the audience directly 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 h er unsaid message. Although it might be possible to construe Bradys essay as a mordant 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 dispirited Proposal. Usually, when I read over this essay, a smirk finds its way to my face-the same kind of smirk I feel starting when I think back to the proud phone call my family received 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 both.Ace-chef that she is, Gini failed to notice that some fresh-from-the-freezer sauerkraut was intent one of her (wedding gift) pans. Jason came to the rescue, though, convinced that he could save the day with his superior knowledge that only inorganic chemicals can clean up burned organic materials. And so, he set about desperately trying the unbosom the pan using Ginis nail polish remover. It does my heart 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.