Introduction
Homelessness is one of the direst conditions in which one can find oneself. Implying the loss of primary resources, being homeless entails numerous challenges. Economic concerns and issues associated with physical well-being are the most obvious. However, in addition to the specified safety considerations, homelessness also involves emotional damage. In the essay “On Dumpster Diving,” Lars Eighner (1992) discusses his experience of homelessness. Though the author makes some legitimate points regarding the survival options for homeless people, the approach that he suggests functions only in the case of preexisting knowledge and education, which many homeless people lack.
Quote Analysis
“I like the frankness of the word ‘scavenging,’ which I can hardly think of without picturing a big black snail on an aquarium wall” (Eighner 87).
Eighner’s comparison of the scavenging process to the life of a snail in an aquarium can be seen as an attempt at humoring the reader, yet it contains more depth than it might seem at first. It appears that the author seeks to introduce the reader to the process of scavenging by offering the most superficial comparison possible while also conveying that scavenging represents a natural activity that is not alien to human nature. Portraying a lifestyle rather than a specific process, the described image and the quote containing it relate to the more significant idea of scavenging as a means of survival discussed in the article.
“All of these foods may be found in any Dumpster and can be evaluated with some confidence largely based on appearance” (Eighner 89).
The specified quote represents a part of the advice that Eighner gives to his readers regarding the process of scavenging and the means of keeping it safe. Indeed, when selecting food options from items discarded by others, using common sense helps avoid choices likely to cause food poisoning or a similar health issue. However, I can’t entirely agree with Eighner since he also fails to recognize the complexity of assessing the quality of food discarded and thrown in a dumpster. Even though some edible items can be located in the specified environment, the risks to one’s health remain consistently high. Furthermore, discerning between safe food options and those that contain immediate health risks requires additional education, which homeless people are likely to lack. Therefore, the life of homelessness that Eighner promotes appears to be rooted in privilege since it suggests that homelessness and the associated issues, such as the search for food, can be a choice.
“The land is now covered in Cities. The cities are full of Dumpsters” (Eighner 94).
In contrast to the previous quotations, the specified quote appeals to be quite strong. As a resident of an urban area, I have witnessed the overpowering effects of urbanization and the associated gentrification of large neighborhoods that used to be rural. Though the described process can be seen as a sign of progress, with crucial technologies being introduced to the rural context, it also implies increased consumerism and waste. Thus, concerns over the threat of overconsumption that Eighner mentions in the specified passages are particularly relatable.
Conclusion
Though Eighner’s essay regarding opportunities to survive homelessness is reasonable overall, the author does not take the need to possess a certain amount of education to practice safe scavenging and the related concepts while homeless. In turn, a significant number of homeless people are likely to have limited access to education options, which is why Eighner’s recommendations are unlikely to be of sufficient help to them. Instead of addressing the problem of homelessness as a statewide concern, Eighner suggests several suggestions that will make it individually more bearable, which does not resolve the matter.
Work Cited
Eighner, Lars. “On Dumpster Diving.” UMB.edu, 1982. Web.