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The essay "Under the Influence" by Scott Russell Sanders delves into the profound effects of alcoholism, focusing on the author's personal experiences with his father's struggle with addiction. This exploration extends beyond the immediate family, encompassing the broader impact on siblings, the author's own children, and the intricate web of relationships entangled by the insidious grip of alcoholism.
Scott Sanders employs a diverse array of sources, including dictionaries, medical encyclopedias, poems, short stories, and even the Bible, to vividly articulate his observations of his father under the influence.
By drawing on these varied references, Sanders provides readers with a deeper understanding of the profound and multifaceted impact of alcoholism on its victims.
One notable instance is Sanders' reference to a biblical story involving a lunatic and a swine. The narrative depicts a possessed man in a graveyard, frothing at the mouth and violently breaking chains. Drawing parallels to his father, Sanders portrays alcohol as a demon that possesses his father when he is intoxicated.
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This metaphor adds layers to the narrative, helping readers conceptualize alcoholism in a different light, transcending the typical descriptions and offering a more nuanced perspective.
The concluding three paragraphs of Sanders' essay unveil the personal ramifications of his father's alcoholism on the author himself. Sanders candidly reveals that, as a young individual, he internalized the belief that his father's drinking was somehow linked to his own shortcomings, fostering a sense of responsibility for his father's actions.
In an attempt to alleviate this perceived disappointment, Sanders worked tirelessly to excel academically and in sports.
However, the shadow of his father's addiction looms large, leading Sanders to acknowledge his own adult tendencies resembling his father's struggles. The author describes himself as a workaholic, mirroring his father's all-consuming relationship with liquor. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, illustrating how the impact of alcoholism can extend across generations, perpetuating a cycle of addiction and coping mechanisms.
The universality of addiction becomes evident as Sanders shares a personal anecdote about a friend addicted to methamphetamine. The friend's life becomes consumed by the substance, mirroring the way Sanders' father was engulfed by alcohol. The narrative paints a grim picture of the friend's descent into theft, even from loved ones, to sustain the addiction. The consequences reach a tragic climax as the friend's mother loses not only her savings but also her son, a poignant parallel to Sanders' own family tragedy.
Through Sanders' poignant storytelling, readers are prompted to reflect on the broader implications of addiction, recognizing that its tendrils reach beyond the individual struggling with substance abuse. The essay serves as a poignant reminder that addiction, whether to alcohol or drugs, has a profound impact on families and communities, echoing the tragic narrative of Sanders' own experiences.
Scott Russell Sanders' essay "Under the Influence" provides readers with a nuanced and emotionally charged exploration of alcoholism's impact on individuals, families, and communities. By drawing on various sources and personal anecdotes, Sanders elevates the discussion surrounding addiction, encouraging readers to view it through different lenses, such as the metaphorical connection to demons or the challenging waltz between a father and son.
The essay serves as a call to action, urging society to comprehend the complex dynamics of addiction and approach it with empathy and understanding. Sanders' literary contribution transcends a personal narrative, becoming a universal exploration of the far-reaching consequences of addiction on the human experience.
Understanding the Impact of Alcoholism: A Literary Analysis. (2016, May 12). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/under-the-influence-by-scott-russell-sanders-essay
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