From a Passage to Africa by George Alagiah
How effective is George Alagiah when presenting the suffering of the people of Gufgaduud?
In the extract, ‘A Passage to Africa,’ George Alagiah appeals to the readers emotions through his sensitive writing style and insightful presentation of facts. He takes us on a roller coaster of emotions and allowing us to empathize with the difficulties faced by the poor. He uses effective language that creates as impact on the readers mine which portrays the harsh conditions and reality of the ‘famine of quiet suffering and lonely death,’ which affects the village of Gufgaduud in Somalia, Africa.
The key feature that appeals to the readers’ when presenting the suffering of the people in Alagiah’s
There are no privilages for being old or young, no love, no care or compassion but a common suffering that everyone is a victim of.
Furthermore, the mist impactful emotional moment in the extract is the “fleeting” smile that leaves the writer and the reader in a state of amazement. The rhethorical questions like “How could it be?”reflect the confusion at this unexpected gesture that breaks away in an unusual manner from the earlier hopelessness and gloom. Our emotions are left bloating due to this positive attitude, as Alagiah mentions that it was a “feeble smile that goes with apology.” It came due to being “embarrassed” of having been found in such a shabby condition bringing out the dignity this man wished to attain and reflecting the eternal hope and prestige the Africans maintain even in those dreadful conditions. In fact, the man’s smile is rather mirrored back and makes the writer feel embarrassed for “standing so strong and confident.”
In additions, George Alagiah stirs in us profound emotions and compassion when he describes the “unwritten code between the journalist and the reader.” Differing from the earlier “callous” portrayal of