She says that she always feels filthy in London and she believes that the British are unwilling to change. She says that England is the only country that pollutes itself. She thinks that London is full of litter and dog excrement. She is thankful that America does not get its prevailing winds from the east.
She believes that the British are uncooperative, and garbage collectors are unpunctual. She is angry about eggs not being kept refrigerated in shops and homes. As well as that she thinks that the English have no respect for privacy, and they like to invade other people’s territory.
She feels that Americans have choices and alternatives and can be satisfied in the knowledge that most misery they receive is due to themselves.
Tricia Stallings uses depressing, formal phrases. It is a serious article about why she feels that England is not fit to live in. At the start of the article, she uses words like ‘battered’, ‘bruised’, ‘shocked’, and ‘sickened’. These words illustrate that she feels exhausted and she is stunned. She also says that she has ‘fled’ England. This gives the impression that she has escaped from something terrible. She says that she nearly fell on her knees and kissed the ground when she reached Boston. This shows that she is extremely relieved and emphasises the fact that she has come away from a horrible place. She is trying to create an effect of relief and comfort.
She goes on to say ‘why, why, why do the Brits take it?’ This use of repetition implies that she absolutely cannot believe why the British accept what they receive. She is asking the British public why they agree to the conditions they survive in.
Tricia Stallings also uses a lot of comparisons between what happens in America and what happens in England. She does this to prove her point and to prove why America is cleaner and better than England.
She uses words such as ‘gritty’, ‘grimy’, and ‘soot-covered’. This gives an effect of pollution and filthiness.
When she talks about Americans, she always says ‘we Americans’. This means that she is very proud of her nationality and she wants to be known as an American.
At the end of the article, she says that at least Americans have choices and options. This is a very arrogant comment and she is trying to boast about the fact that most unhappiness Americans receive is of their own making whereas the desolation that the British receive is not necessarily due to themselves.
