more mess

Eudora Welty uses exaggeration in “A Sweet Devouring” which not only contributes to her argument but also aids in the characterization of her as a child. Welty focuses on her love of reading as a child, and everything that she went through in order to continue reading as much as possible. One problem that Welty was continually faced with was her speed of reading, she always finished the books too quickly, and wanted them to continue. “I read them [books] with love – but snap, I finished them. I read everything just alike – snap.” Welty’s use of exaggeration helps the reader understand Welty as a character. Now as the reader I know that Welty read, maybe not in a “snap,” but unusually quickly. Welty also compares reading to something else enjoyable, “The pleasures of reading itself – who doesn’t remember? – were like those of a Christmas cake, a sweet devouring.” I find this quote quite affective because it appeals to two different kinds of readers. As a reader who is not as interested in reading as Welty, I interpret this as exaggeration. How could reading ever be as enjoyable as a Christmas cake? But Welty also appeals to readers who relate to her more, and understand that a passion for reading can be just as enjoyable as a Christmas cake. I suppose this is only a use of exaggeration to select readers, but it still draws a point of comparison to the other readers. Welty says she would, “Tiptoe in (“Silence”) and exchange them [books] for two more in two minutes.” Again the use of exaggeration helps with the character of Welty, a young girl who enjoys reading and continually trades completed books for new ones. Welty uses exaggeration to show how genuinely in love she was with reading as a child, and how much precedence it took in her life. Without the use of exaggeration, I do not believe as many readers could relate to this love of reading because not all share in it. The exaggeration though, helps all readers to connect because it provides humor and sustains interest and even astonishment to readers who were not like Welty as a child.