“The Falling Man”, written by Tom Junod, contains many different elements that allow for this article to be effective. This article focuses on a specific photograph that was taken during September 9. 2011 casualty involving the Twin Towers. The photo shows a businessman that was trapped within one of the towers and had no way of escaping the raging fire within the building. The reason this particular man stands out to many people is due to the fact that he does not have the look of “[…]confusion, as though trying to swim down the side of a mountain,”(Junod). Junod examines the different layers this picture by using imagery in order give better detail about the man himself most notably of the man’s clothing and his position in the air, tone to convey the tragic events in a somber light, and the use of point of view to understand the parallels of both the reader and the Americans as a whole.
In The article, Junod is able to capture the human experience in a way that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. He does this through the use of detailed imagery. Beginning the article immediately by both describing the situation and the man’s actions. It’s a desperate scene and yet describes his choice with embrace. He describes the man as “perfectly vertical and so is in accord with the lines of the buildings behind him”(Junod) creating the shocking image of the man whilst falling. The buildings, which “loom like colossi”(Junod) forge the idea of the sheer size of both the towers themselves as well as the surrounding metropolitan area. Further explanation of his form while falling is depicted as a “missile, a spear bent on attaining his own end,”(Junod). He has made up his mind and his actions are absolute. But his actions are depicted as hero-like. The comparison of his body to a missile and spear, weapons of war, aim to paint his demise in a patriotic light. He chose to go on his own means, at ease with himself, relaxed and non panicked. His descent is seen as beautiful and as a symbol of the resilience of the American people and this is perfectly
The article uses tone to display the national tragedy that was the attacks on September eleventh. His somber tone portrays the desolate state of Manhattan and the gut-wrenching feeling of all Americans during the attacks along with the juxtaposition of the calmness the man was able to obtain. Junod states that it appears as if he was unable to determine his own ending. Tom Junod also comments on the fact that this man conveys a sort of rebellious nature within his posture, “as though once faced with the inevitability of death, he decided to get on with it;” (Junod). These words tell the reader that in this moment where the entirety of New York and most of the world is panicked and anxious, this man has accepted and become as at peace as he could with his ending and did not try to fight it. The opposition tranquility that this man brings shows a sort of somber tone as it shows how someone taking their own life is at peace with the idea of doing this instead of falling victim to the initial attack. In order to show the sudden craziness that has been brought upon Manhattan, Junod brings forth an opposing view in the way of the other people who had jumped from the tower in order to escape a worse fate. He describes that “their shoes fly off as they flail and fall; they look confused[…],”(Junod). The depiction of the hectic nature of everyone surrounding this man adds to the already serious tone by showing that no one could avoid their tragic fate.
Point of view is critical to the true meaning of this article. On September eleventh, Americans could do nothing more than watch in horror as the attacks unfolded. There was nothing they could do to change what had happened and the damage to the country would be irreversible. Likewise, the falling man saw death at all angles that he didn’t ask for. Our perspective is one of knowing the outcome. We know the man could not survive such a drop and we know he has already jumped. It’s a look into a grim and finished situation ending in the loss of life. Readers can’t do anything but see and think about the man as he falls. Not only is there a parallel between the helplessness of the reader and the helplessness of the American people, but also between the photographer. The article stops to introduce us to the photographer, no stranger to dangerous situations. Even all of his experience could not have trained him for the sickening reality of the September eleventh attacks
The events of September eleventh rocked the nation, few images are more ionic than the falling man. Junod uses tone, imagery, and point of view to help display the grim reality of the country and the falling man. Imagery is used to show the critical aspect of beauty of this article as well as showing the the true events A solemn tone covers the article as the nation mourns the loss of thousands. Perspective helps tie the reader and the American public together in their helpless positions. For more information on the September eleventh attacks visit the memorial website here.
Work Cited
Junod, Tom. “The Falling Man.” Junod, Tom. “The Falling Man.” Esquire, vol. 140, no. 3,Sept. 2003, pp. 176+. Gale Academic OneFileSelect, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A106423422/EAIM?u=hpu_main&sid=bookmark-EAIM&xid=ce48797f.
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