TOW #3 - "Too Fat" by Tierra Anne Meng

In the auto-biographical essay Too Fat, Tierra Anne Meng, a high-school student at Madison Area Memorial High School, begins by reminiscing on her childhood. Specifically, those moments spent staring at fashion magazines, wishing her waistband would someday be just as narrow as the girls on the page. Meng struggled with anorexia throughout her sophomore year of high school, which is why she chooses to organize her essay in a chronological order. She describes how this paralyzing disorder can take over the young human body – both physically and emotionally. For example, in multiple occasions, Meng uses the visual of weight dropping – “104…103…102…101…100… You keep getting compliments, but inside you know something is wrong” (Meng 46) – so that those who have not experienced the hardship of an eating disorder, are able to grasp the mental picture. Likewise, while recounting a near death experience, Meng uses grim imagery in order to convey the fact that if one keeps at anorexic behavior, a tragic ending is likely to proceed. She states “But here’s the kicker. Your body didn’t wake up. Your soul did. You look down at your lifeless body in the tub […] Your lips are a lifeless blue and your eyes are sunken to the point of no return” (Meng 47). This imagery creates a vivid scene, making it easy to visualize, and exposing pathos. A reader who has not experienced anything of this nature is more likely to pity the author, while a reader who has gone through a similar struggle, may unfortunately see themselves in the same boat as Meng. Therefore, the audience is presumed to be those who are currently battling an eating disorder as Meng wants to warn them about the dangers before it is too late. She decides to end her essay with a classic message, saying “You are beautiful just the way you are” (Meng 48). Reaching out to her audience, Meng clearly coveys her purpose that obsessing over body image will only bring out the demons; instead, focus on what counts: happiness.

Link: http://www.whatkidscando.org/new/pdf/Stirred_But_Not_Shaken.pdf

Visual Link: http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-distorted-mirror-of-anorexia-89700/



Caption: "Now you see me, now you don't (referring to mental demons)"