This Is a Photograph of Me

I was drawn to write about "This is a Photograph of Me" just by reading the title. I myself love to take photographs, it's an art form that not many appreciate. When thought and style are put into a photo, it becomes a form of art. I am not talking about your pictures from your last drunken debauchery, or something you snap from you 6 mega pixel digital camera, but real artful photos. Anyways, back to the story by Margaret Atwood and what she is trying to convey.

At first the reader gets taken in by immense imagery. The reader has a detail summery of what the photo itself looks like, then Margaret changes the image in the mind to what is actually in the photo. You start to think of a peaceful place, maybe even a place you have once been to before. The reader is enjoying this second of peace in their mind and then Margaret switches tones again. You are hit with a passionate yell of information about the subject at hand, an explanation of the photo itself, set off with parentheses. The parentheses explain that the subject is actually dead, voicing out from the departed. The subject, very calm in my opinion, explains that "the photograph was taken the day after I drowned." In a simple sentence, the image of that peaceful place in your head has now turned into a dark and gloomy area in which you wish not to see anymore. Margaret then explains that although you can not see the actual body of the deceased subject, "if you look long enough, eventually you will be able to see." Margaret has successfully changed the readers whole thought process with a couple of words. Now when you think of this photo, you will not think of that peaceful place, you will not think of only a dark gloomy place, but your mind will focus on the subject that is now deceased. The reader is now taken in and wants know more about the who, what, why, when, how aspects of the photo. The reader always wants more if left hanging on a question, especially one that is not asked in the message, but is thought of by themselves.

How does Margaret do this to us with only a 143 words? With the use of imagery and all its glory. Imagery is a very powerful tool when writing, it stimulates the senses and produces an powerful thought in the mind. It allows the reader to become part of the story, but a part that has no control. At this point the writer, in this case Margaret Atwood, can sway your mind in any direction, that is if her imagery worked on you.