The beauty of this quote is that it opens the possibility of a well-received essay to the entire world. Anyone who has a reasonably perceptive mind and is aware of the world around them can sit down and write what is, potentially, a very hard-hitting essay. Sontag says that the “influential essayist” is someone who understands “what has not been (properly) talked about [and] what should be talked about (but differently)”. If this is true, then the key to good essay writing is to notice one’s surroundings and to make connections, perhaps disparate ones but, connections nonetheless. As in much writing, Sontag point to a “distinctive prose voice”—the way in which something is said—as more important than what is being said. While this is certainly open to argument, it cannot be denied that voice is one of the most essential elements in literature.
This puts me in mind of nearly every conversation I have with my friends. No matter the starting point, we are led from topic to topic, every person making a contribution with ideas and observations which are unique to themselves. In the end, we walk away less impressed with ideas that were presented and more satisfied with the knowledge that we carried on a meaningful conversation. Though we are unquestionably made to think as a direct result of our interaction, that isn’t necessarily the most important part of the interval spent. This is how a good essay should make one feel. When one reads an essay, there should be a sense of the author; one ought to feel as though they are having a dialogue with a friend. The feeling should be one of greater understanding, greater provocation and an appreciation of not only the words used, but also the way in which they were used.
