Melina Norris
AP Lang
Harmon
27 Feb. 2012
Better Late Than Never.
An Analysis of “Time Out!” by Dave Barry
Dave Barry’s embellished fortitude exaggerates the stereotype that women are always late. Barry claims that a woman’s idea of being ‘on time’ is far different from a man’s. He employs hyperbole, satire, and ethos to justify his conclusion that it is genetically impossible for women to be on time.
Barry’s use of hyperbole delineates the misconception women have no concept of time whatsoever. “Women think there is WAY more time in the universe than men do,” a “scientific, statistically valid conclusion [Barry] reached by talking to some guys about their wives.” He
qualifies the statement that women think there is more time in the universe than men do as a “scientific, statistically valid conclusion” simply because a few other men agreed with him. He classifies all women by his experience with his own wife who is prone to lateness. Because women believe “that the universe has plenty of time,” they interpret leaving for a party at “7:30 to mean ‘around 8,’ or more specifically, ‘9.” Barry fabricates the idea that when women are late, they are very late. Generally, no woman is going to allow herself to be one to two hours late for an event.
Barry utilizes satire to add humor to the stereotype that a woman’s perception of time is far different from a man’s. When catching a plane flight, men will always “factor in a ‘cushion’ to allow for the unexpected,” while women will “arrive at the airport as the plane was taking off” and ask what the hurry is because “the plane isn’t even halfway down the runway yet.” Barry’s sarcasm implies that women see nothing wrong with being late so much that they would arrive an airport to catch a flight as it was already “halfway down the runway.” Because women are often categorized as intelligently superior to men, Barry chooses to exalt one of the few flaws they possess to prove that, in this way, men are better. “I’m almost ready!’ ‘I’m just putting on my makeup!” are phrases commonly heard by men, but to them, “these two statements contradict each other.” “It’s like saying: ‘I’m very short! I’m 38 feet tall!” Barry uses this contradictory statement to emphasize the confusion forced upon men when women claim they’re almost ready, but have to do this or that first. His sarcasm reiterates his “factual” conclusion that the entire female population is physically incapable of being on time.
The ethos Barry uses allows the male readers to relate to his article. He pulls in situations that he himself, along with most all men, has endured with their own wife. “Every minute that a wife spends putting on makeup is experienced as 45 minutes by a husband who has reached the key-jingling stage.” Men can relate to pacing back in forth in agony waiting on their wives to finish getting ready. While women see a few short minutes as nothing, men are already starting to break a sweat. By the time 5 minutes have passed “the husband is a nervous wreck,” while the wife complains that he is rushing her. Barry conveys the animosity men have towards the female habit of tardiness through ethos. He draws men into the article relatable situations he has endured with his own wife.
Barry’s use of hyperbole, satire, and ethos in “Time Out!” efficiently portray the widely known “fact” that women have no concept of time. By over emphasizing one of the few flaws of women, he places men, in this characteristic, as dominant.
