As a newspaper article the audience this was originally intended for would have possessed different degrees of familiarity with Adams (it was published in a newspaper that is categorised as having an educated readership however, so Dawkins would probably have assumed the audience were aware of Adams). This shared familiarity would explain the lack of rhetoric and persuasive features and lexis used, as there would be no need to convince the audience of the tragedy, ‘literature has lost a luminary.’ The transition in the second paragraph from the first person singular pronoun ‘I’ to the first person plural pronoun ‘we’ shows Dawkins recognition of this shared loss, ‘we shall plant a tree.’ This makes his tribute to Adams and the article more inclusive and creates a connection between the writer and reader that allows them to empathise with him. The use of an interrogative sentence, ‘Was it cathartic?’ in the conclusion also helps to draw the reader in. Dawkins appears to ask and answer the question on behalf of the audience, and this mimics a conversation of sorts between the reader and Dawkins, which implies they are now acquainted. This conveys his feeling as it suggests his grief is such that he needs to share it.
The structure of the extract also conveys Dawkins feelings and attitudes about Douglas Adams. The listing technique employed in the first paragraph contrasts with the relatively short sentence that follows it. This serves to emphasise how greatly he feels the loss, that although Adams meant a great deal to many different things they cannot experience the extent of sorrow he feels. This is also shown in the nature of what is included in the list, ‘Science...literature...mountain gorilla and the black back rhino...Apple Computer,’ none of which would be aware of or could actually feel sorrow at Adams` death. The syntactic parallelism found in the list (shown in the repetition of ‘has lost’, which also serves to reiterate the core theme of loss) shows Dawkins esteem for Adams, as he recognises a variety of different aspects his friend influenced, and suggests he was important enough to each that his loss will impact them greatly. The typography of,
‘and now that I am allowed it is too late.
The sun is shining, life must go on, seize the day and all those clichés.’
shows Dawkins regret, as it draws the reader`s attention to ‘too late...seize the day,’ something he did not do and now wishes he had. The way in which the end of the first paragraph is left hanging shows Dawkins distress at the finality of Douglas` death, and it also suggests that without his friend to share the news with it has lost all meaning, ‘I officially received a happy piece of news yesterday, which would have delighted him.’
The author has used mild humour to provide comic relief, ‘Apple Computer has lost its most eloquent apologist.’ This contrasts with the content and purpose of the article and shows Dawkins conflicting emotions; the happy memories he has of Douglas Adams at odds with the grief over his death. The article is generally written in a reasonably formal register, with the use of contractions ensuring it is not overly formal, ‘we`ll give it our best shot.’ There is a break in the register in the second paragraph however, ‘The sun is shining, life must go on, seize the day and all those clichés,’ and the informal register sarcastic tone he uses to acknowledge the clichés shows how inferior they are in the face of actual grief.
There are several examples of imagery used throughout the article, the most overt being the symbolism of life associated with the tree. Planting a tree to honour Adams` death will ensure that there is something to commemorate him long after Dawkins himself has died (fir trees have a life span of around 300 years). It may also serve as a form of respect for his friends beliefs, as Adams was a prominent advocate animals and the environment. This is shown through the imagery of the powerful animals, ‘the mountain gorilla and the black back rhino have lost a gallant defender,’ in the first paragraph, which could represent that Adams was a powerful and influential man who made a difference to the world. By planting the tree Dawkins has somewhat offset the printing of the newspaper he contributed to, and continued to help the survival of a cause his friend cared for. The description of the tree can also serve as a metaphor for how Dawkins viewed Adams, ‘a Douglas fir, tall, upright, evergreen.’ Another interpretation is that planting the tree may be a metaphor for Dawkins figuratively burying Adams and accepting his loss (the burial could not be literal as he was cremated five days after his death, and the article states that it was written within twenty four hours of the event). Adams died aged forty nine of a heart attack, which hints that the line, ‘It is the wrong time of year, but we`ll give it our best shot,’ is Dawkins portraying Adams life as a year and lamenting that it was ended early.
The conclusion appears to suggest that Dawkins attempts to deal with Adams death (writing the article, figuratively burying him) have been unsuccessful, ‘The tree is planted, and this article completed...Was it cathartic? No, but it was worth a try.’ This is somewhat of an anti climax, but it could deliberately symbolise Dawkins friendship with Adams, which built up and was then suddenly ended. The use of the word cathartic, and its dismissal, is of note as it has religious connotations. Both Dawkins and Adams are well known atheists, and this would be the last joke Dawkins could ever have with Adams at the expense of religion.
