Sanders Essay

Throughout the essay Under the Influence, Sanders does a great job illuminating his character- even though he is not the central figure. He draws upon the many parallels of not only his father's life but the consequences he has had to endure as a direct result of his fathers drinking, as a child and as an adult. In a way, this is a rapturous monologue, not only for himself as the writer, but for the reader as well. 

He states directly in Singular First Person that his writing is "a door through which others may pass." This particular quote holds a lot of weight in reference to Under the Influence. Although Sanders is writing about himself and his own experiences, he builds a sense of trust throughout, in some of the more intimate details he describes, even though he still manages to keep us at an arms length. He expresses the sorrow that looms in the household (through his mothers various frustrations) as well as the anger and resentment he felt then, and now. Even though he states that his writing may provide a door through which others may pass, there are things he does not disclose to us. We see the obvious struggle, but we do not get to know him outside of his father's shadows (is this the only place in which he lives?) Understandably this story was based on his father's alcoholism, but usually an audience cannot completely buy it when they cannot relate in one way or another. Here, Sanders gains our trust through his writing in ways many writers cannot successfully achieve. His tone is not somber, yet not joyous. He writes to us in an in-between, as a story teller. He captures the readers attention with a descriptive memory- without attacking them with too much emotion packed drama. It's simple, yet truthful.

 It was interesting to see how he conveyed these feelings, and then how they related to his writing style in First Singular Person. What he is trying to do in his writing vs how it is actually conveyed. Also the idea of family and parents. How issues such as his show up in our later adult lives, unresolved.