Introduction
The essays On Compassion by Barbara Lazear Ascher and Homeless by Anna Quindlen explore the subject of homelessness from diverse perspectives. Ascher gives out her views from a compassionate perspective while Quindlen assumes a varying position by narrating the story of Anna. Quidlen’s philosophy focuses on the idea of having a house while Ascher talks about the plight of the poor people. She thinks of the poor wondering, “would they get off the streets if we offer them money or food?” Ascher talks of a homeless man from the eyes of a woman who gives out a dollar bill to him and a question on whether the gift was motivated by compassion or fear. In another incidence, Ascher describes the experience of a French man who owns bread shop offering a bread and tea to a man in rags reeking stale urine and cigarettes. Her argument is generally on what compels people to act in a charity, pitying, caring or even compassionate way. Ascher believes that people behave in this way in fear of the encounter or confrontation by the ugliness of realities people face daily in life (Kusmer 339). The paper discusses the idea of homelessness by comparing and contrasting the positions and arguments assumed by the Quindlen and Ascher.
Quindlen writes about her encounters with a homeless woman, the experience that made her think of the idea of homelessness. The essay “homeless,” argues the view of Americans towards home and the way it has changed in the past few years. According to Quindlen, this view should adjust to consider the plight of the homeless people. This comes out through her introduction where she meets a homeless woman who shows her a picture of a house she once owned. This makes her developing a feeling that a home is not merely a house, but a place where one connects personally and emotionally. She goes further to elaborate the way homelessness has become the world’s worst predicament. She defines a home as a place where one acquires security and comfort and not only a matter of food, shelter and mailing address. The sense of pride about homes is long lost and has become a transitory place. In her view, the homeless were once just like others, but something occurred that made them lose their homes. On the other hand, Aschler focuses on other people’s opinions towards homeless. She creates a clear picture of a person who does not have shelter, security and comfort. She accounts of a homeless person where those around him are scared of getting into contact with him. These people resolve to keep them off using gifts so that they do not bother them, which is a motive behind their charity act (Bogard 237).
Quindlen’s literature points out the satisfaction one has after discovering and being contended with where the heart belongs. She notes that a home can never be dismissed provided it is offering privacy, certainty, predictability and stability. She refutes the sense of being rich and having all the basic needs as what entitles one to a home. Most of those in the streets are a result of violence that chased them from their homes. Some of them used to be locked in their homes and chose not to be locked leading to emotional illness. Others look for something that they do not find in homes and opt to forego the luxuries of a bed, food, shelter in pursuit of freedom. However, Ascher assumes a different perspective because she believes that the problem of homelessness can be solved through charity and offering gift to the homeless. She is also not portraying any aspects of the homeless to account for individuals who at some time had a home (Connelly 411).
Quindlen’s work gives a clear picture of what homeless people undergo. Her essay also shows that the homeless are not in streets following their wish but because of circumstances. In this context, Quindlen’s work has a more sympathetic feeling than in Ascher’s case where there is no one attempting to arrest the situation. In Ascher’s case, people resolve the situation through offering gifts due to fear of the homeless. On the other hand, in Quindlen’s situation, one feels the pain and persistently takes it as a serious issue yet no action is taken towards it (Verma 213).
In Ascher’s essay, on compassion, the tone is speculative and observant since it talks of the opinion of middle and upper class on the homeless. She achieves it through taking a mental note of several events that she encountered. She tries to analyze what comes to people’s minds when they meet a homeless person and what step they take to keep off or avoid embarrassments. In contrast, Quindlen’s essay the homeless, assumes a sad tone. This is because no one notices what homeless people go through. She clearly points to the reader to see the homeless in a different perspective, that all they need is a home. She focuses on the need of being appreciative and contented, arguing that some persons do not own at least a dish rack (Bogard 164).
Ascher’s most prevalent stylistic technique was the use of pathos and imagery to make one feel part of the scene. She uses anecdotes about homeless people to give impact to the reader's emotions. On the other hand, Quindlen mainly uses imagery and pathos to impart the sadness she feels when talking about issues of homelessness. Furthermore, she makes her literature effective by providing pictures of the homeless in the streets (Kennedy and Jane 97).
Although the Quindlen and Ascher’s explore the idea of homelessness from different perspectives, both scholars have provided educative essays. Quindlen’s essay targeted making individuals understand the significance of having a home and the situation characterizing the homeless people. It is factual to conclude that many people are homeless following the circumstances that are out of their wish and control. In contrast, Ascher’s essay targeted making the reader visualize how people treat others to avoid embarrassments brought about by their troublesome presence.
Works Cited
Bogard, Cynthia J. Seasons Such As These: How Homelessness Took Shape in America. New York: Aldine De Gruyter, 2003. Print.
Connelly, Mark. The Sundance Writer: A Rhetoric, Reader, Handbook. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2013. Print.
Kennedy, Dorothy and Jane E. Aaron. The Bedford Reader. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. Print.
Kusmer, Kenneth L. Down & Out, on the Road: The Homeless in American History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print.
Verma, Rita. Be the Change: Teacher, Activist, Global Citizen. New York: P. Lang, 2010. Print.
