"The Good Short Life" by Dudley Clendinen

In "The Good Short Life", Dudley Clendinen reflects on his life while having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Clendinen reveals that he will end his own life rather than have his family and friends watch him die a slow, painful death. His experience as a recovering alcoholic has lead him to be an extremely resilient person. Clendinen had watched his mother pass away from a terminal illness. She was unable to bathe herself, change herself, or even go to the bathroom. This is what guided Clendinen to the conclusion that he would be the one to decide when his life would end. His daughter, Whitney, would only remember her father the way he wanted to be remembered; not slowly becoming a vegetable. The context of this essay is to explain to his audience why he chose to not seek the most advanced medical treatments, be hooked up to machines until he died, but rather die with grace. Clendinen's purpose is to inform readers as to the reason of his decision to only live while he is vital and content. The audience for whom the essay was written is people that are facing death, rather it be themselves or a loved one, the essay aims to reach those that need comfort and logic surrounding death. Clendinen does just that by explaining to lead a happy life until the day he can not. The author's most outstanding rhetorical device is diction. His diction is not ominous, but rather reassuring and at-peace. This allowed him to successfully convey his purpose because he showed that his unfortunate fate will not negatively affect his present. Pathos, appeal to emotion, is used to connect with the audience when Clendinen writes about everyday activities that he loves, which one day, he will no longer be able to do: walk the dog, talk with his daughter, and tell a funny story. "I have found the way. Not a gun. A way that's quiet and calm. Knowing that comforts me" (Clendinen 66). He clearly states that he is absolutely comfortable ending his life. By doing that, he has achieved his purpose of informing his audience that he is content in dying.

Vitality: Dudley Clendinen made the decision to live until he could not do the things he loved anymore. He did not want to be a vegetable in a hospital bed until he died. 

Source: http://arizonastatehospitalabuse.blogspot.com/2012/06/illicit-tobacco-sales-and-use-staff-at.html