How Does Josephy Use Language to Make You, the Reader, Feel Part of the Debate?

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Additionally, the repeat of “no” used in the fifth paragraph shows that the family has nothing. It gives a reason to the “pilfering” the child does. This repetition emphasises the harsh conditions of “Whisper” and his family and shows they are living without the barest of necessities such as a bed to sleep on, a bath to wash in, or even plates and cutlery to eat with. They need the junk, the scraps found by Whisper to keep living. This makes the reader feel admiration for the family at the strength they show yet sadness that they have to show this strength at all. All these feelings that Josephy makes the reader’s feel, includes them in the argument, it makes them want to fight for these destitute people, making them part of debate.

The name “Whisper” itself is a metaphor for all the destitute people. It makes them seem so insignificant, like they don’t matter, like they are invisible. This is emphasised by calling his mother “Mrs. Whisper” who has gone through such horrible things like “abuse, dereliction, drink and abdication of responsibility”. This listing makes the reader feel admiration for still being “fiery” even when she was “bent by the burdens” of her situation; and guilty for allowing people to go through all these things just because they are poor. The list also emphasises all the horrible things she has gone through. Josephy makes her the representation of all the destitute woman who face these things and make the reader part of the debate by making them want to join in on the argument and stop all the disappointment these people feel.

Marks: 11/12

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