Company Man Essay

367 Words2 Pages
In “The Company Man,” by Ellen Goodman the protagonist, Phil, literally works himself to death after decades of hard work and dedication to his company. Phil’s life shows that hard work does not always have its benefits. In life, we must slowdown from our hectic schedules to appreciate life itself. Goodman utilizes Phil as a paragon of the overworked, overstressed characters in society to seize the day. We accomplish absolutely nothing when we are encapsulated in our work. The vivid diction describes the sarcasm that Goodman has towards Phil. Goodman composes her paragraphs with meticulous rhythm and beat; she repeats “finally,” “precisely” and “perfect” three times. Phil’s constancy and lack of variation are embodied in rigid words such as “always,” “of course,” and “Type A.” Extreme diction such as “overweight,” “nervous,” and “workaholic” convey Phil as a robot with no fun at all in his life. These words mock Phil as a man solely obsessed with work that has lost track of his priorities. The descriptions of Phil in “The Company Man” are sardonic of the present way people live in society. Goodman makes light of how Phil is a heart attack waiting to happen, his seventy-hour workweeks and egg sandwiches. “Of course,” used three times, translates as the acceptance that we have towards intolerable living conditions in order to fulfill the American dream. Like many Americans, Phil is constantly obsessed about his work and whether or not he will ascend to the top. Through these details, she describes the monotonous, repetitive way that society exists today. Throughout the story, images negatively portray the lifestyle that Phil lives. Superficially, all seems well because his family lives a comfortable life. Emotionally, however, his family has missed his emotional support for years. His wife, Helen, gave up “trying to compete with his work years ago.”
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