Gansberg- 38 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call The Police

Summary:

Gansberg uses light narration to develop an idea of people's reaction to danger. "38 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call The Police" written in 1964, for The New York Times exemplifies the fear of getting involved with dangerous situations. In this writing, a twenty-eight-year-old female was a victim to three stabbings over an half hour period. During this time, however, all the neighboring houses who heard the screams, had not called the police until after the third stab. By the time, the ambulance had arrived, the victim was already in fatal condition. Afterwards, the police interrogated the witnessing neighbors, in which all replied that they had not wanted to get involved.

Assignment questions:

1. Gansberg's central theme was the fear of getting involved in situations that may endanger oneself. If the writer had not used narration, and presented this theme through a series of facts and quotes, as if he were writing a news article, I believe he still could have developed his theme so that readers would understand the message. However, for the purpose of this story, which is to enable readers to realize how danger can complicate other's decision as to whether or not to lend a hand, I wouldn't find other patterns of exposition as effect. The writer used the detailed descriptions of the scene to enhance the feeling of sorrow for the woman and disappointment towards the witnesses of the crime. However, the writer also succeeds in making the reader stop to carefully consider what she or he would do, if they were those witnesses.

2. This news article from 1964 has still managed to retain it's significance today because the theme is still so true and honest. Many people are still afraid of reporting a crime to the police for various reasons that evolve around the idea of those witnesses also being involved with danger. In areas of the lower class, situations as such may be considered as very risky to even have the authorities walk up to your doorstep for questioning. People are afraid of the baggage of insecurity and vulnerablity that is brought along with a phone call to the police.

2&3. The main narration in this piece begins where the writer talks about what the police said happened. The preceding paragraphs are used to explain what happened in such a way that compells the reader to carry on with the story. The paragraph transitions in within the narration are subtle, but also lack in variety. The writer uses techniquies such as stating the time of which the following paragraph was describing, followed by transitions (by then, by the time, later, today). These transitions are used to smooth the breaks between each paragraph as the reader proceeds through the article.