Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim Group

Question:

maureen22182
maureen22182
Student
Community / Jr. College

What is the significance of the two signs: ""Don't be greedy" and "My candy. Keep out"? What do they tell us about Sedaris?

This essay is called "Us and Them" by David Sedaris. It is from his book-length memoir, "Dress your family in Corduroy and Denim".

Rate question:

Posted by maureen22182 on Sunday October 19, 2008 at 6:45 PM and tagged with dress your family in corduroy and denim, memoirs, sedaris, us and them.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Those signs tell us several things. First, they show Sedaris' attempts to control his environment, and to transform it. This can be seen in his numerous artistic explorations too: he takes what he is given and changes it. Second, they are a paradox. One says "Don't be greedy," while the other says, "My candy." It is greedy. This leads to a third thing it tells us: Sedaris will display his shortcomings and (apparent) lack of self-understanding for the reader's amusement. That's a central theme in his humor.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/dress-your-family-corduroy-denim-salem

    Rate answer:

    Posted by gbeatty on Monday October 20, 2008 at 8:45 AM