1. What is the essay about? What is its thesis?

- The essay is all about the concept of manliness and “How a man dislikes being a
man.”

2. How did Paul Theroux develop the essay’s thesis?

- Paul Theroux described the essay’s thesis by telling his experiences and other
perspective about being a man. He clearly explained his intense dislike of being a
man in his own opinion and society’s view of manliness and what it mean to “be a
man.”

4. Go back to your annotation. What are the words that you found difficult to
understand?
- There are some words that I had trouble understanding that may mean something
and could be important.
Fetishism: Pathological displacement of erotic interest
Grotesque: Odd in shape, appearance or character
Philistine: A native or inhabitant of ancient
Pugnacity: Readily inclined to fights of quarrel or desire to argue
Social Misfit: A person with different views of from others on culture and
doesn’t fit in with them.

5. Are there concepts and/or references mentioned in the text that you are not
familiar with? What are those?
- Yes, there are concepts and references such as “Personality Development and
Psychopathology” were mentioned in the text, that I actually have no idea about
what those references were about. The reference of the fiction writer Hemingway,
other men such as James Jones, Jack Kerouac, and Nathaniel West. The reference,
“Lives in new York with her three children.” Was mentioned in the text also.

6. Based on the language and style of the writer, who you think is the target
audience of this essay?
 - Well for me. the target audience of the essay is for all of us, specifically to men and
women. The essay addresses the “society” that not all men are expected to be
superior in all ways. But it made us understood that the idea of manhood is to not
just be dominant in many ways, but to be fair.

8. Based on his different definitions, what is his concept of being a man?

- I think that Theroux is bothered in the way how society makes the whole idea of
manhood in America unfair. He is definitely mad and upset of the concept of how
a man should be a manly type of thing. And that he just wants all men and women
to be equal and to be able to do stuff like women’s do. To be a writer without being
called anything less than a man. He thinks that the fact that men are supposed to
only do sports is stupid and that clearly all men can’t think for themselves.

9. Does your concept of manhood/manliness discussed in the warm-up activity

match to Theroux’s concept of manhood? What accounts for the similarities or
differences? What/who has influenced your definition of the concept?
- In my opinion, a man is someone that can properly handle different kinds of
situations, it is where one can understand and stay composed despite the factors
if it is not necessary. I also agree to some of the points Theroux has claimed,
especially to the sport that being a young adult’s way to prove his masculinity. My
opinion is from my past experience.

10. What do you think are the issues in Theroux’s definitions of manhood?
- I think the issue I have with Theroux’s essay is that he is too blunt about his
problems regarding with the way society sees masculinity. There are instances
that it is obvious that the examples he gave clearly were taken from his
experience. In my opinion, he does not dislike being a man, instead, he is not in
favor with the way men treat manliness.

Francis Miko A. Manlangit 11 - STEM