The Sardonic Mirror

 

        In his novel "The Best of Me," author David Sedaris assumes the position of a voyeur, observing others from an aerial view. I found his position both humorous and troubling as one could easily misconstrue his wryness as insulting. He takes an "Us vs. Them" stance, peering on others while sometimes providing a background to his life. One main question I have after reading is: Why this stance? I want to discover what Sedaris is trying to achieve through his mechanism. 

        Sedaris's voyeurism introduces the idea of the mirror. These reflections allow characters to learn something about themselves, and as readers we begin to reflect on ourselves. The mirror tool surfaces the most in Sedaris's anecdote about the Tomkey family trick-or-treating after halloween. After an argument with his mother over candy, he states, "The only alternative was to do as my mother had instructed and take a good look at myself. This was an old trick, designed to turn one's hatred inward...Were this the only image in the world, you'd be forced to give it your full attention. This stagecoach, for instance, coming round the bend with a cargo of gold. This shiny new Mustang. This teenage girl, her hair a beautiful mane, sipping Pepsi through a straw, one picture after another, on and on until the news, and whatever came on after the news" (86). Here, Sedaris flips the mirror on the reader. His point is that images--for example, the outward appearances of others and images on a tv--are deceptive. They are only reflections and therefore are not truth. In this particular excerpt, Sedaris suggests that we ignore the "truth" by indulging in the material--new cars and shiny hair. This quote stuck out to me because Sedaris departs from his aforementioned motif of the "deceptive image," which he fulfills in the descriptions of his brother, Paul. He looks past appearances for Paul, but seems to condemn others for their lack of reflection or deep understanding. Maybe this is the whole point. 

        I am interested to follow this theme through the remaining chapters and discover a more concrete answer to Sedaris's claim. Additionally, Sedaris emphasizes his idea of reflection through his sardonic tone. By acting like there is something "wrong" with others and making fun of it, Sedaris calls us to reflect on our own actions. Not just reflect--but fix. Unlike Irby, Sedaris gives us a "reality check" instead of a call for acceptance. Through his sarcasm, Sedaris highlights the deceptive and revealing powers of reflections.