Critical Reading Mother Tongue Essay Example

until Tan intervenes and speaks flawless English. This demonstrates how mother tongue can also influence people's attitudes towards someone.

In George Orwell's essay "A Hanging," he recounts his experiences as a police magistrate in India. Orwell highlights the inhumanity of one person taking the life of another and emphasizes that everyone will eventually face death, making no one superior enough to justify ending someone's life. Through this essay, Orwell aims to depict the cruelty involved in executing a human being.McCraney (113) wrote this book because he had firsthand experience as a participant in executions. The essay titled "A Hanging" focuses on the prison warders who accompany a prisoner from their cell to the location of their execution. During this process, a young dog mischievously disrupts the proceedings. Eventually, one of the warders apprehends the dog, allowing the execution to continue. The condemned prisoner is then led up a ladder, the rope is secured, and they are given time for prayer before the execution takes place. The magistrate examines the body to confirm the execution, after which the magistrate and warders go for a drink (McCraney 117).

As George Orwell reflects on his experiences, he recognizes that the final walk with the prisoner is not just a group of men escorting someone to their death. He starts to contemplate whether the prisoner has a family and loved ones. Orwell feels a sense of profound moral objection to ending another human being's life, describing it as an "unspeakable wrongness."

Despite their differences, both essays employ engaging language that captures readers' attention and address issues that impact people's lives.Tan and Orwell both discuss different aspects of social interactions: Tan focuses on

the role of language, while Orwell examines the impact of the law. Both authors provide personal examples to support their arguments. Tan mentions her mother and husband, while Orwell references a condemned prisoner (McCraney 141). The essays diverge in terms of perspective, with Tan adopting an informative approach, whereas Orwell employs a narrative style. Additionally, Orwell is renowned for his narrative abilities, while Tan is acclaimed for her instructional and realistic writings. Their distinct backgrounds also shape their perspectives: Orwell's writing is influenced by his English heritage, while Tan's English is influenced by her imperfect inheritance from her mother, who did not speak the language fluently.