Lydia's Story

1.       The main point in Brideau’s essay in the story “Lydia’s Story” by Jan Brideau is that you must stay positive in tragic times. This is indicated in the last sentence of the story “Lydia’s story stays with me the most… sense of hope and determination in the face of terrible adversity”(Brideau 131)

2.       The primary point of view is third person. The impact of this point of view is that it is less detailed because Brideau is telling the story and not Lydia.

3.       Brideau make the narrative “come alive” by using words such as terrified, cried, alone, screaming, and horrified. This appeals to the reader’s emotions because it makes the reader scared for Lydia’s life.

4.        The audience of the magazine “Health Affairs” could be set for medical workers. Brideau’s tone suits those readers because of the phrases she used such as “eager to have her tooth examined” (Brideau 128) and “she worked in an emergency room of a local hospital and was soon to become a physician”(Brideau 131).