The Notion of Success in Writing Life by Annie Dillard - Essay Example

The writer begins the story with a tone of zeal for life when she talks about the long winter days where people plan their routines on an hourly basis. “It never got very dark. Your life parted and opened in sunlight” (Dillard, p. 94). It implies that the writer’s life, as well as the lives of her fellow human beings, was a busy one where everyone was a participant in the marathon of success. However, some were highly successful like Rahm who had the power to entrance and enchant people with his agility and experience while others were on a lesser level like other pilots who knew the same acrobatics but could not perform all of them at once.

Since the very beginning of the story, Dillard provides the readers with the comparison between the lives of successful and the lesser successful people in life which also inspires an individual to work harder and better to prosper. As it is also apparent from the antics of the blue swallow as well, “the swallow climbed high over the runway, held its wings oddly, tipped them the inspired swallow” (Dillard, p. 97). Dillard also explores the psychological impact of fear that leads to failure and the insecurities an individual might harbor regardless of his success and prosperity in life.

“Sitting invisible at the controls of a distant plane, he became an agent and the instrument of art robed in the plane he was featureless as a priest” (Dillard, p. 110). These lines highlight that success does not make an individual perfect or invincible every person has his fair share of fears, insecurities and troubles however the intelligent ones just cover their weaknesses better than the lesser intelligent ones. Furthermore, regardless of the dexterity and expertise that one might have, it does not guarantee that they are perfect.

An interesting stylistic technique that the writer constantly incorporates in her work is the excessive use of personification which beautifies and enhances the depiction of her ideas as well as enlivens the readers reading experience. “Plane swiped at the mountains with a roar the wings shuddered the engine whined” (Dillard, p. 100). It also highlights the writer’s art of creativity and the vision with which she uses her power of imagination to weave the spell of her words around the readers.

In her short depiction, Dillard skillfully encompasses a variety of stylistic techniques and observations about human life and their behaviors. Reinstating that pen is the most powerful weapon a writer has to express without hesitation and limitations and literature is a medium that gives an individual free reign to vocalize opinions and spread knowledge.