I have just a couple of questions for you regarding Scott Russell Sanders’s essay “The Common Life.”
First of all, how would you describe “The Common Life” if you were to explain it to someone who has never read it before? What exactly does Sanders seem to be arguing? Is his essay descriptive or prescriptive? In other words, is he merely describing the current situation here in America? Or is he prescribing ways to remedy the current situation? Or both?
Secondly, how does Sanders characterize American life in the 1990s (when he wrote the essay)? In Sanders’s opinion, what do Americans value? And why? And what’s wrong with those values (acc. to Sanders)?
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21 comments:
To me, Sanders begins descriptivly by taking two opposites and continues by [prescriptivly] showing how the negative side can be brought toward the positive side.
In the very beginning of his essay, Sanders places the happiness of common activity (181-184) beside the negative parts of society which flow forth from pure individualism (185-188). However, Sanders then begins to rectify the gap between the opposites acknowledging that he has also "been shaped by this history" (188). From this foundation of opposites bridged by a fragile and personal link, I believe Sanders builds a sturdy pathway stable enough for others to cross into a way of life involved in the community of the whole world, including the earth (196).
"The Common Life" is Scott Sanders' personal opinion pertaining to how the American public needs to change. Sanders primarily argues for the American people to become less individualistic and become more concerned with the overall well-being of the community as a whole. Sanders provides and describes multiple instances of how the American focus on individualism has hindered everyday life (par 19). Through his own personal accounts and experiences, Sanders provides a prescription for the "Common Life," which incorporates a "sense of our shared life as one of giving and receiving"(par 41). Sanders identifies that Americans are too concerned with themselves, their own material possessions, and are unconcerned not only with other people, but also fail to exercise proper respect for the environment and natural resources. These individualistic values and rights do not "oblige us to answer to the needs of others" (par 22). I agree with Sanders, individuals coming together as a supportive community is fundamental and essential to experience the highest quality of life.
Sanders begins his essay talking about a common experience and then furthers this experience to how Americans only care about their individual needs and issues that affect them directly. Through his analysis of the current situation in America, he also extends his opinion on how to fix what is and has been happening to our nation. Sander's expresses that Americans are too absorbed in material things as well as themselves, that most fail to see the real issues at hand. For until these issues pose a direct threat to our own personal bubble, most are oblivious to much of what is occuring in our nation. Sander's offers a very real opinion and does a good job in communicating his actual purpose. While reading his essay I found myself time and time again agreeing with his views. And I do believe that coming together and reaching out to others, to form the community life he speaks of, is essential to conquering many of the problems our nation faces.
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