Emmaline Russell
Parkinson
English 3
4-5-16
Author, Lars Eighner describes his experiences as a dumpster diver through his writing, On Dumpster Diving. Eighner strategically uses pathos throughout the piece in order to attract sympathy from the audience. Starting in paragraph seven, Eighner says, “I think it’s a sound and honorable niche, although if I could I would naturally prefer to live the comfortable consumer life, perhaps- and only perhaps- as a slightly less wasteful consumer, owing to what I scavenger,” (Eighner 7). In my opinion this appeals to the audience in a sympathetic way. He is telling the audience how he wishes he could live a, comfortable, modern lifestyle. But instead he is forced to become an expert with digging through the trash. Also in paragraph 32 he says, “At first the new scavenger is filled with disgust and self-loathing,” (Eighner 33). This proves the almost, pathetic, attitude associated with living off of another’s trash. It’s not an ideal lifestyle and he points that out multiple times. I think Eighner really wanted the audience to feel thankful, and to be less wasteful. Eighner and many others don’t live as luxurious of a lifestyle.
