Under The Influence Review

Memo

To: Lynn Gibbons-Beddow, Lecturer
From: Megan Barber; Alcohol Group, English 102.30, Spring 2009
Date: 2/8/09
Re: Alcohol Group Term-long Assignments

Message:

The essay called “Under the Influence” by Scott Russell Sanders is a story that pertains to alcohol. This piece is a good choice to show the negatives of drinking. It delves into the mind of the son of the father who is an alcoholic. It shows how it affects him and his family. It is a good essay because the audience can feel the same emotions the character feels. Perhaps the essay’s strongest element is that it explores the personal ramifications of alcohol abuse on family victims. The reader is allowed to interpret all the problems that occur because of the father’s drinking. It really goes into detail on how drinking can affect others. When the son matures into an adult, he stays away from drinking because he has seen the affects that alcohol can have on his family. (122)

This story tells of how the boy tries to understand why the father does what he does. He blames himself for his father’s actions. He finally comes to realize it is not his fault, and his father drank himself to the hospital. The father ended up having to give up drinking if he wanted to live. He did so for fifteen years. He then retired and he had a drink to celebrate his hard work. After that one sip he started drinking again. (129)

This essay describes the story of many families who deal with similar issues. Children will put the responsibility on them to try and fix the parent’s problems. They will get involved and try and change their behaviors. This story is very believable and real. This story can be told from many people’s different perspectives because it is seen in different families. This essay can play a strong role in the fact that it shows the negatives to drinking. It goes into a family and a boy’s perspective and how he views his drunken father. This essay will give the alcohol group a great example on the negatives of drinking. It shows how it hurts more people than just the people addicted to alcohol; it affects the family members too. (131)


Work Citied

Peterson, Linda H. and John C. Brereton. “Under the Influence.” The Norton Reader. 12th ed. Ed. Marilyn Moller. New York; W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 2008. Pg.121