In this essay, Joseph Epstein writes about boredom and its
constant presence in our lives. Epstein, a lecturer at Northwestern University
for English and writing, has been published numerous times for essays and short
fiction. Epstein’s purpose is to express to the reader his belief that boredom
is not something that can be cured or gotten rid of; instead, one should use it
to stay passionate about life. Young people and adults both can benefit from
reading this article. The author uses many rhetorical devices throughout the
essay to achieve his purpose, including: anecdotes, etymology and metaphors.
The use of anecdotes by the author provides a humorous tone to part of the
essay. For instance, Epstein tells the story of when he complained to his mom
that he was bored; her reply was, “‘Really? May I suggest that that you knock
your head against the wall it’ll take your mind off your boredom’” (Epstein
103). This use of a comical anecdote supports his view that boredom is not
always a negative. Epstein also discusses the etymology of the word “boredom”,
including the different kinds, such as “situational” and “existential”, and how
it was perceived as a socioeconomic attribute. Thus, boredom is a condition
that has been, and will continue to be, an integral part of human life. The
many metaphors Epstein uses, such as “an indefinable affliction” and
“psychological Sahara”, emphasize the prevalence of boredom throughout our lives.
Moreover, we understand that trying to “fix” boredom is a relentless task.
Epstein supports his proposition very well. As the reader, I now understand
that, although I cannot rid myself of boredom all the time, I can appreciate everything
else more.
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