Analysis of The Island of Plenty by Johnson C. Montgomery - Essay Example

The review of ‘The Island of Plenty’ appeared first in the Newsweek magazine in the year 1974 (Montgomery, 328-329). The article was clear in the assertion of its points and consequently got some criticisms from a section of the populace who felt that it was deceitful. The article was titled My Turn on the Newsweek magazine before it was later renamed The Island of Plenty. The author of the book supports the idea that America should isolate herself from helping other countries, until the time they had enough sustainable resources.

Montgomery argues that isolation is necessary for America to concentrate on solving their internal problems first. The writer has used rhetorical devices such as alliterations, assonance, cacophony, and onomatopoeia in this piece. Metaphor The title The Island of Plenty is a metaphor used to represent America. The writer uses the metaphor to show how America is filled with enough resources that are plenty to feed all its citizens. The word ‘island’ elaborates on how America should isolate herself from the rest of the world and stand alone.

America is described as a rich and stable country that has enough wealth, which can sustain the citizens for a lengthy duration. The author further elaborates his point by stating that ‘The country should remain an island of plenty in the sea of hunger’. The author mocks other countries globally when he refers to them as ‘sea of hunger’ to show how the countries are underprivileged and do not have passable wealth. The author does not present this metaphor correctly to give the meaning intended.

The word ‘Eden’ is used to refer to America by the author; he argues that the only fertile and productive land remaining in the world is America. He advises the government and the citizen not to destroy the Garden of Eden, America, by halting their aid to other countries. The other countries only concentrate on giving birth to more children who overpopulate the earth. Famine has been used by the writer as a metaphor to represent the irresponsibility of countries that do not control their birth rate.

He argues that having many children limits the resources available, hence the famine. Montgomery presents his work of metaphor correctly, hence, making readers the ability to understand the story further.