An Analysis of Daniel Orozco\'s Short Story Orientation Essay

Gurleen Sofia SidhuFor Natalia KhomenkoOct. 23, 2013Tutorial 3Dark Twisted Fantasies In An OfficeWhat makes for a memorable short story can be debated and talked about for hours on end with little progression in the direction of a definite answer. American writer, critic, and editor Edgar Allan Poe established his own method to formulate a great short story. Poe called it the single effect theory and it instructs that in order for one to create a successful short story a single or unique effect must be written in. It must be present as early as the first sentence to indicate what type of story it will be. It is believable that not every writer is aware of this theory but perhaps it can be argued that every short story has a single effect thus making it unique and therefore successful. Orientation is the infamous tale written by short story writer Daniel Orozco. Within it can be noted the oddly genial narrator who is rather impersonal, maintaining his professionalism the whole way through yet manages to expose many dark details about his employees. This storys single effect is the use of a businesslike narration in a story set within an office heavily focussed on its rules.What contributes to a storys uniqueness is its single effect making it memorable proving it to have achieved some level of excellence. This effect provides a story with meaning in some way and Orozcos use of very specific language aids in achieving it. The story is told in first person but written in second person. By addressing his audience and the silent main character as you he makes it evident that he is addressing anyone who has experience in the bland day to day office setting. The choice of diction is not overly complex, rather it can be considered quite simple but it is important to notice that it is not immediately boring. Orozco makes it quite easy for readers to breeze...