Didions Marrying Absurd and a Graduation Ceremony - Essay Example

The black robes, the black hats, the scrolls in hands, and the beating hearts; the electrified atmosphere and the tears of proud mothers; the flashes of cameras and the hooting and hollering, and the tossing of degrees into the air. These are the quintessential moments of a graduation, and these moments are etched forever in the memory. They are innocent, yet mature. Innocent in the form of hopes and dreams that are associated with the future, and mature in the achievements that have been garnered, and lessons learnt over the course of the academic life.

Regardless of the level of the ceremony in terms of academic years, be it a high school graduation or college graduation, the feelings and the vibe associated with the ceremony are universal. The pride of an academic life well spent, and the thrill of an unseen future, of meeting new people, of having new experiences, a new life, a new environment, unite all students of all levels all over the world. That is the reason graduation ceremonies are so special, and so important in one’s life. Joan Didion, in her essay “Marrying Absurd”, draws on the absurdity and the frivolousness of the practice of marrying in Las Vegas (Didion).

She makes use of anecdotes from her real experiences in Las Vegas concerning the manner of marriage there (Didion). The tone adopted throughout the essay is that of incredibility and ridicule, so that the whole essay reads as a comical and larger than life representation of marriage in that place (Didion). The writer does not write about marriage in general, rather focuses on the specific location of the ceremony of marriage in Las Vegas only (Didion), and by comparing it with the marriage practice elsewhere, she gives her verdict, which is present in the title of the essay, as that of absurdity (Didion).

Moreover, she does not strive to present any positive or favorable aspects of the practice, but merely submits the negatives and incredulous points (Didion); therefore, her writing can be said to be biased in nature, and leaning completely towards the negative side of the issue (Didion). The writer objects to the ‘expectations’ (Didion) of the couples who want to get married in Las Vegas, and calls into question the reasons for such an act (Didion). Therefore, the expectations and the vibe associated with the event is treated ironically and its worth questioned (Didion).

In my description of the event of graduation ceremony, I have addressed the expectations and the feelings and vibe associated with the event; however, these characteristics have been treated with respect and awe, and have been given a positive tone. It could be said that the description as a whole is biased towards the positivism of the event, and addresses only the nice aspects of the ceremony; in that respect, this description could be considered to be completely opposite to that of Didion’s in its treatment, tone, and style.

In fact, Didion does mention ‘niceness’ (Didion) in her essay, and states that Las Vegas tries to create an environment that portrays the ‘niceness’ (Didion) of the event of marriage, and is an easy way out for the rich immature people who do not know how to handle such events, or the youngsters who have not been taught the nitty-gritty of the occasion (Didion). Taken in context, Didion treats even this positive aspect ironically, and there is an obvious sarcasm between the lines (Didion).

Both the descriptions deal with