Selling Manure Bonnie Jo Campbell Analysis

In her personal narrative, Bonnie Jo Campbell describes to her readers the time she sold manure the summer after school let out. At first, Campbell was embarrassed to deliver manure; however, over time, she began to realize selling manure was beneficial for both her and the customer, and quite fulfilling as well. Campbell (1996) states, “Within about a week, however, I began to see the absurdity of our situation as liberating” (p. 30). She begun to understand that selling manure was an honest vocation as opposed to her first thoughts. Not only is manure delivering effectual, but also are the other countless overlooked jobs often seen as low class citizen jobs. Through her story, she puts job stereotypes to rest and even glorifies them.

Without passion, it would be very unlikely for people to accomplish tasks effectively. People would be unmotivated. Without pride, taking

Campbell (1996) declares, “even the smelliest job has its rewards,” which implies that even the most underappreciated job has its rewards and benefits people in the society spectrum (p. 30). At the end of her story, Campbell tells her darling Christopher she will be spending the afternoon shoveling manure. He replied, “Aren’t we all,” (Campbell, 1996 p. 30). Christopher does not mean he is the one shoveling manure; instead, he is working at a job society overlooks- the paper converting plant. Through this conversation, Campbell is telling her readers that Christopher is prideful in his job as a paper converter as he implies that everyone has their manure shoveling or paper converting-like job they should be prideful of. Everyone will have a job overlooked by society; however, no person shall be embarrassed to do the task at hand, but thrive in the pride and passion they have for