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Summary Of Caught In The Widow's Web By Gordon Grice

676 Words3 Pages

Is There Order in Chaos? Many people suffer from OCD, a mental disorder that causes the patients to habitually clean or organize in the hopes to lessen anxiety. This disease can be found in "about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children" across all lifestyles (1 "Beyond OCD"). This malady causes a need for order out of chaos, such as a need for clear reason out of the anarchy of nature. One creature, who could never satisfy OCD patients, is the black widow spider. Consequently, this is the subject of Gordon Grice's nonfiction piece, "Caught in the Widow's Web." In his essay, Grice speaks on the reactions people have had to the spider, as well the clear disorganization of its habits and its venom. Using careful word choice, elevated literary devices and an array of literary modes, Gordon Grices spins a tale of the fickle black widow spider in all her anarchic glory. Grice's eloquent language leads the reader on a clear map through his modes of both process and narration. Juxtaposed to his topic of disorder, the author presents many processes in his essay rather orderly. The first example contains a small explanation of the widow's perplexing eating and hunting habits. He explains the many uses of the widow's, "remarkable web" (4 Grice) as well as its insatiable appetite, while …show more content…

His calm explanation of the spider leads the reader to expect a simple commentary on spiders comparative to other commentaries found in textbooks. This tone, however, contrasts starkly against his more brooding phrase choices such as "husks of consumed insects" (2 Grice) or "devouring her tenth victim" (5 Grice) that create a deplorable image of the spider. Yet somehow, between these conflicting voices, an even more confusing undertone surfaces. In such phrases as "remarkable" (4 Grice) or "mystic reverence" (9 Grice) the reader can hear the echoes of the awe-inspired

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