David Sedaris may appear abnormal or strange to some, but in his stories “A Plague of Tics” and “Ashes,” he opens up about his personal life, breaking down the barrier between himself and the audience. He uses humor to alleviate any discomfort or awkwardness that the readers may experience while reading his stories. By sharing his life from an autobiographical perspective, Sedaris grants the audience a genuine understanding of who he is, even though some of his experiences may seem peculiar to those on the outside.
David Sedaris utilizes his artistic abilities and humor to deconstruct his own feelings of being different, enabling readers to relate his narrative to their own experiences. Although not directly mentioned in “A Plague of Tics,” there is an implication that Sedaris may be affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While one might anticipate the story to emphasize the negative aspects of his condition, it becomes evident that it is far from gloomy. Instead, he shares entertaining anecdotes that coincide with the disorder. Reflecting on his childhood, Sedaris recollects the responsibilities he felt compelled to fulfill upon arriving at his house after school, specifically after climbing “six hundred and thirty-seven steps” (Sedaris 8).
The excerpt from Sedaris’ work describes his odd and obsessive routine, which involves kissing stairs, stroking burners, and jabbing a butter knife into an electrical socket (Sedaris 10). Despite completing these actions, Sedaris still feels compelled to continue engaging in foolish antics throughout the day and night, showcasing his crazy behavior. This slapstick humor is incorporated into his writing, highlighting the physical aspect of comedy. It is both psychotic and amusing to consider that an average person would insert a metal knife into an electrical outlet, but for someone with OCD, these actions are normal.
When Sedaris introduces additional characters, it provides readers with a better opportunity to connect with his problems or situations. The first person that comes to mind when deconstructing the ‘otherness’ in John is Sedaris’s mother. She demonstrates a relatable side that outsiders can understand. Although she may find John’s behavior strange and irritating at times, she never belittles or betrays him. Instead, she often finds humor in the situation.
Talking to John’s sixth grade about his violent head shaking, Sedaris suggests that the teacher should interpret his head shaking as a nod of agreement (Sedaris 16).
A little sarcastic tone helps to ease the situation and control the mood of the story. The mood before Sedaris’s mom delivered this line was dry, although straightforward. More like an awkwardness because of the weird situation (Sedaris’s OCD antics) in which they were brought together for. Now, the mood is on the lighter side. The awkwardness is taken out, and mockery of the situation is brought about.
Sedaris begins his essay “Ashes” by creating a more humble atmosphere. He grabs the readers’ attention with a clever and surprising sentence, declaring his lifelong homosexuality and making his siblings promise not to marry. This bold statement engages the audience and encourages them to delve deeper into his work, sparking thoughts and curiosity about the true nature of Sedaris’ family.
“Ashes” demonstrates the deconstruction of ‘othemess” and is a prime example of a story that many people can relate to. Unlike “A Plague of Tics,” it includes familiar occurrences in life. One such occurrence is Sedaris’s mother battling cancer. Despite feeling scared and confused, she finds humor in her situation. When she reveals the recent test results regarding the significant tumor in her lung to David, she jokes, “‘They tell me it’s the size of a lemon.’ Not a tiny fist or egg, but a lemon. I think they describe it in terms of fruit so as not to scare you, but come on, who wants a lemon in their.”
