Effective reading is the perfect avenue for the proper derivation of the motivating factors behind an authors writing. Reading as an activity is known to stimulate mental development as well as foster improvements in the concentration and conversational abilities. Through reading, knowledge acquisition is enhanced and consistent mental images eliciting healthy existence of the human body in tandem with the necessity of knowledge and information for communication and cohesive co-existence.
Through reading, new messages are easily deciphered as well as providing a chance for the reader to remain updated on sensitive issues all over the globe. Reading has also been the perfect link between persons of diverse generations as well as an avenue via which individuals can read of the experiences, expectations, fears, hopes and triumphs that characterize daily life. Lars Eighner’s essay On Dumpster Diving provides an incisive dissection of the American ‘dumping mannerisms’ whilst providing succinct details on survival from the Dumpsters.
Apart from the literary aspects that make Lars Eighner’s work splendid, his articulation of the dumping and wasteful concepts of the American society is phenomenal. First, the adoption of a first hand participant, who narrates the experience from a first person point of view validates the arguments on Dumpster diving. In addition, the eloquence with which he examines the strategies and guidelines for survival in the dumpster is captivating. Ultimately, the author banks on a highly descriptive, informative and factual furnished description which ostensibly eliminates chances for doubts.
This is also helped by the introductory statements which actually state that the author was indeed homeless for a certain span of his lifetime. Armed with all this information, the reader is drawn to the perfect conduit of the story by its sheer captivating narration, which actually invokes a word of praise for the author and one cannot stop to wonder how such a brilliant writing talent ended up scavenging in the dumpsters or diving.
The author examines the etiquette of dumpsters and the principles that inform the endorsement of findings as safe for human consumption in a most compelling manner. The main point of emphasis is the reason behind the discarding of certain foodstuffs despite their freshness and edible state. To this end the author poses ‘ Even if I found good food, it would always be difficult to establish the reason for its dumping so it is more suspect than the stale foodstuffs whose reason is obvious.’ However, this does not apply to pizza which he postulates that it was prone to be dumped due to customer rejection occasioned by imperfect baking, misplaced orders or customers who were not serious and thus the high chances of their being in perfect condition when dumped. Ostensibly, the careful selection process is not an assurance of total escape from dysentery.
The author explored the wasteful and careless nature of Americans and students in particular. The food wasted at the end of the semester or during days when visits are likely to occur is simply incredible. The fact that the dumpsters contained vital information even about the health status project a society whose priorities and caution has been thrown to the wind. Finally, the author observes the limited ability of the dumpster divers and postulates that carrying only that which is of immediate use is vital. The author juxtaposes the athletic divers and the scroungers, with the athletic divers vested with the ability to get the best from what he could not whilst the scroungers geared towards only getting the can.
The essay validated the argument that literature is the mirror through which the society examines itself in. Though the essay is set in deplorable conditions, its assessment of the American society is spot on. Known largely as the origin of capitalism, the images portended by the author could substantiate this. To begin with, the scavenging can be termed as the daily toil. The dumpster can be likened to the diverse work places whereas the food can be likened to jobs. The symbols of the many valuables found in the dumping sites reflect the diverse opportunities available to the populace who instead of appreciating them use them partially for their fulfillment and discard them. Thus, the valuables available in the dumpster point to the numerous opportunities for wealth accumulation in which many end up accumulating more than they need.
