1 – The text under consideration is entitled “Art for heart’s sake”, written by Reuben Goldberg – an American sculptor, cartoonist and writer, who was born in San Francisco. After graduating from the University of California in 1904 he works as a cartoonist for a number of newspapers and magazines. He produced several series of cartoons all of which were highly popular. Among his best works are “Is There a Doctor in the House? ” (1929), “Rube Goldberg’s Guide to Europe” (1954) and “I Made My Bed” (1960).
In his works, the author brings into sharp focus the human needs and treasured basic human values. 3 – One more work of Goldberg, where he develops the theme of human values – the theme: art and money is the story «Art for heart’s sake». 2 – The story is told by the author. He is a person who knows everything about the facts and characters but does not take any part in the action of the story. He tells about an old man Collis P. Ellsworth who lives in the American state Iowa. He is very rich but has problems with his health because of his disastrous purchases.
As a treatment he is engaged in art. Despite that he can’t draw, his picture won the first prize. But actually, we learn at the end that he bought this gallery. 4 – The author with the help of humor story takes up a very serious idea. He says that every man has his understanding of art, and for somebody art means the opportunity to buy this art. 5- The story begins with the dialogue between Mr. Ellsworth and his male nurse Koppel, when he brought pineapple juice. The servant behaves very politely because he works by Ellsworth and earns money for this polite.
Such attitude and care the author shows with epithets “gently, good”. Mr. Ellsworth by-turn is irritable, nervous, capricious and rude. It is expressed with metonymy “Pineapple juice” to name his nurse and such word as “snapped or grunted” in the situation when Koppel propose him juice, and with rude answer –“No” on this proposition. After this Koppel heard the front door bell and was “glad” to leave the room. Comes Doctor Caswell and Koppel tell him that “Ellsworth doesn’t want to read to him, he hates radio, he doesn’t like anything! The author’s object in employing these parable construction and epithet “glad” is quite evident. He wants to show that in fact Koppel was sick and tired from Ellsworth’s caprices. And with the help of the last exclamatory sentence the author enhances the desired effect. Doctor knows his job and maybe such behavior was in his practice not for the first time. Such a conclusion we can do because of epithets “professional (calm), constructive (thinking)”. But this patient is peculiar. We understand this owing to use of epithet “ordinary” in describing of this illness.
The professional appreciation of the doctor to his patient and to patient’s purchases is explained with epithet “pretty good (shape)” and “disastrous (purchase), great ( sacrifice), doubtful”. To give this situation a comic effect the author resorts to zeugma “great sacrifice both to his health and his pocketbook”. But despite the capricious of the patient and unwillingness to obey, the doctor had the good proposition for him. The doctor proposed him to be engaged in art. Ellsworth was surprised at this news. Epithet “suspiciously” imparts this reaction.
And with the rude, so characteristic of him, he answered that it is “Rot”. In general the analysis would be incomplete if we did not touch upon Ellsworth’s individual speech. Besides that he speaks abruptly he constantly uses colloquial abusive words “Rot, Bosh, poppycock, by gum”. They characterize him as an emotional, quick-tempered, restless person. And he also reacted to this usual idea ugly, having apprehended it as nonsense. But the doctor calmed him and told that he doesn’t mean some seriously and it will be fun. Next day Dr. Caswell went to his friend, head of the Art Institute, and explained the situation. Using represented speech and epithet “promising” the author describes a good student-Swain, who cans help them. When young Swain comes, Ellsworth treats him with suspicion and arrogance. Epithet “appraisingly” and such impolite reaction as “Umph” are used to convey this. Swain gives the first task and waits “patiently”. This epithet describes Swain on the good side, but I don’t think that he behaves so because he respects Ellsworth, most likely he is afraid to lose the opportunity to earn money.
And despite inability to draw, that is expressed by epithets “crude (lines), slight (resemblance), lopsided” and noun “scrawl” and by comparison “like a child” , which raise a smile at the reader, Swain try to give advises and try to play up. It is produced by epithets “not bad, respectively”. After another lesson Ellsworth asks Swain to come more times a week. But it should not be interpreted as a real desire for art. Ellsworth wants to dust in the eyes. And the author describes this in an ironical form using such epithets as graceful (lines), rich (variety), proudly, insatiable (curiosity)”, which at first sight express a real interest, but really they show Ellsworth’s pretence and mislead the readers. They believe that Ellsworth really enjoy art. Such epithets as „perfectly (treatment), safe, new, charming” and represented speech proved that Dr. Caswell and Koppel are of the same falls opinion, that they want to help him and believe in wonder-working force of art. And propose him to visit different exhibits. At this moment appears an artful idea in Ellsworth’s brain. In spring his picture “Trees dressed in white” was ready.
And by describing of it, with help of metaphor “spring cloak” the author draws the reader’s attention to such fact that maybe this season casts idea of this picture and at the same time with metaphor “good-awful (smudge)” wants to oppose beauty of spring of this a picture, and thereby (feebai), with this contrast, to intensify the irony. So after the picture was ready, Ellsworth made a startling announcement. He wants to show his picture at the Gallery. Used in this case epithet “a startling (announcement)” expresses brightly reaction of people which help him. The author enhances the desired effect with the help of exclamatory sentence.
The exhibit in this Gallery was very important. And with epithets “biggest (art), distinguished”, exaggeration “lifetime (dream)” and mention of a big prize we understand haw valuable this exhibit is and of course wondering of people around him. But comparison of picture with “a gob of salad dressing, thrown violently up against the side of house” which receives special expressiveness with help of exclamatory sentence, and words with emotional value “laughing-stock, groaned” clearly give to understand, that this idea is absurd and ridiculous and express honest desire of Koppel to prevent the next failure.
But Doctor doesn’t want to admonish this process, because he had done a good work. And to the utter astonishment of all three-and specially Swain – picture was accepted for the Gallery show. Mentioned paranthesis underlines that Swain knows much about this things. Then the author tells us about the place where the picture hangs, he employs a number of stylistic devices: epithet “inconspicuous (place)”, metaphor “a loud, raucous splash on the wall”, periphrasis “strange anomaly” which in combination with world “fortunately” produces an ironical effect.
Because the bad picture, only to pleasure,can hang in a dark unnoticeable place. But despite it Ellsworth was cheerful. Some time later he received the letter. And asked Koppel to read it, having explained it that his eyes are tired from painting. From this letter all learned that “Tree Dressed in White” won the first prize. Analyzing his behavior: absence of experiences during the exhibition and his surely invented tiredness of eyes, we can draw a conclusion that he knew haw this exhibition will end and that he wanted to brag demonstrative of his success.
Of course all were surprised. To convey this the author used epithets “inarticulate (gurgles), supreme (effort)”, repetitions “Fine, fine. See, see. But, but. ” And then Dr. Caswell with his professional self-control want to emphasize once again that art is much more satisfying then business, Ellsworth answers that he bought this Gallery last month and art is nothing. After reading of this history I think everyone will reflect, that art means for him. And everyone certainly will have a different idea of art and everyone will estimate it on his own. And in general has art a price?
