Question 3 Essay

           In the passage “Los Angeles Notebook” by Joan Didion, he explains how the wind is the soul of people’s positivity and negativity. Didion uses much imagery to prove his point of how the wind named “Santa Ana” would ruin everyone’s day and feelings. Didion proves how horrible it is when the wind blows by using much imagery to make the reader picture how awful the wind can make someone feel, examples of a sad tone to show how everyone’s suffering from the wind, and details every idea that supports how the wind is a negativity towards the people.

         The imagery used in “Los Angeles Notebook” by Didion helps the reader picture and gets an idea of how the wind is in his point of view. “A hot wind from the northeast whining down through the Cajon and San Gorgonio passes, blowing up sandstorms out along Route 66, drying the hills and the nerves to the flash point. In this quote from the text, Didion explains how the sandstorms on Route 66 was blowing up which gives us an idea of the characteristics of the wind and how he views it from his perspective. There are a number of persistent malevolent winds, perhaps the best known of which are the mistral of France and the Mediterranean sirocco, but a fuen wind had distinct characteristics it occurs on the leeward slope of a mountain range and, although the air begging as a cold mass, it is warmed as it comes down the mountain and appeared finally as a hot dry wind.” The wind is upsetting, and unsatisfying Didion.

     Didion details the wind very specifically describing how it affects the people of Santa Ana. “I recall being told, when I first moved to Los Angeles and was living on the isolated beach, that the Indians would throw themselves into the sea when the wind blows, I could see why.” Didion describes in details how the wind is upsetting and affecting the Indians. “The baby freaks. The maid sulks. I rekindle a winning argument with the telephone company, then cut my losses and lie down; given over to whatever if it is in the air.” Santa Ana people are upset because of the winds which make negativity to win.

         To show how negatively the mind is, Didion provided many examples to support his perspective. “In Switzerland the suicide rate gives up during foehn, and in the carts of some Swiss cantons the wind is considered a circumstance for crime. The wind is affecting the people even in other places.  “Surgeons are said to watch the wind because blood does not clot normally during a foehn.”This quote shows how the winds is not benefiting anyone. Didion later goes on to detail in showing how the winds are disturbing in everyday life.

      In the passage, “Los Angeles Notebook” by Joan Didion he analyzes analyzes how the Santa Ana winds are crucial to the people in the passage “Los Angeles Notebook by Joan Didion. He explains throughout the story how negative the wind is by providing imagery, detailed ideas that support his perspective, and examples. The Santa Ana winds provided great discomfort for the people.