Judy Brady's I want a wife

             At some point in our lives, we have wanted to have someone else do things for us. These things range from doing chores and tasks, such as laundry and cooking, to just keeping us satisfied in life, dealing with our mental, physical, social, and sexual needs. In Judy Brady's essay, "I Want a Wife", she explores why she would like to have a wife. Brady's style and structure contribute to her theme of female repression. Various style techniques, such as repetition and irony, are used along with the structural technique of using levels of intimacy.
             One of Brady's main style techniques is the use of repetition. She is constantly describing what she wants in a wife and the duties that the wife should take care of: "I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling complaints about a wife's duties." Brady believes that the wife does everything and the husband does nothing but expect his wife to do everything. Her repetition of "I" shows the husband's selfish viewpoint: "I want a wife who will work and send me to school" and "I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean." Her message then sinks in because she constantly reinforces this point of view. In addition, Brady is also very direct in the details she uses while repeating the issues that concern her: "I want a wife who will plan the menus, do the necessary grocery shopping, prepare the meals, serve them pleasantly, and then do the cleaning up while I do my studying."
             A second major style technique that Brady uses is irony, seen throughout her essay. Right from the start of the essay irony is used, beginning with the title because the reader assumes the author is male. Brady also uses irony to develop an opinion towards the basic male perspective on gender roles: "I want a wife who will work and send me to school. And while I am going to school I want a wife to take care of my children."...

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Judy Brady's I want a wife. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 14:32, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/7946.html