A narrative analysis of the article "Jessica's Liberation" written by Jerry Adler and published in Newsweek magazine. In this article, Adler discusses the rescue of Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch during the 2003 U.S.-led war in Iraq.
I began my analysis by reading the article twice. First, I considered the content of the article, primarily its main characters, the chronology of events being detailed, and the images chosen to accompany the article. During this read, it became clear that although the author sought to recount the events in an impartial and distant "journalistic" manner, the article was clearly aimed at an American lay audience. On the second read, therefore, I explicated the following elements of the article that demonstrated its disposition toward a particular audience: the portrayal of the primary individual subject of the article and the characters used to frame the narrative.
The article was the cover story in the magazine. A smiling picture of young, white Jessica Lynch in army fatigues and against a backdrop of an American flag graces the cover. All of the text on the cover is capitalized. The leader at the top reads "INSIDE BAGHDAD." Next to Lynch appear the words "SOLDIERS & SPECIAL OPS." Below that and across her right chest are the words "SAVING PRIVATE LYNCH." This introduction sets up a relationship between the reader and Lynch, who on the cover is both girl-next-door and American soldier. The cover also encourages feelings of American patriotism through Lynch and the American flag with the enemy/other clearly identified as being "inside Baghdad."
The author did not conduct a personal interview with Lynch. The first quote the author relates of her is "I'm an American, too" (Adler, 2003, p. 42). One of the last quotes is from before she left for Iraq, when she said "I'm just a member of a supply crew" (Adler, 2003, p. 45). In between these quotes, the
...