Me Talk Pretty One Day

Sedaris’s pursuit of the French language makes up much of the narrative of Part Deux of Me Talk Pretty One Day. When Sedaris describes his relationship to the study of French, he tends to characterize the process of language acquisition as full of comical errors and clumsy attempts. For him, the French language represents access to another culture that may permit him better understanding of his own. Through learning another language, he begins to question what he knows about American life and customs.

The French language also provides an entry point for Sedaris’s personal growth. He writes, “What I found appealing about living abroad was the inevitable helplessness it would inspire” and that there is excitement in “overcoming that helplessness” (155). This seems to be the defining personal pursuit behind Sedaris’s desire to live abroad. Learning the French language is his way of overcoming his sense of powerlessness as he attempts to gain agency over his life.

Sedaris’s New York City is the backdrop of many of his social critiques and frustrations. Characterized as excessive and driven by competition, Sedaris paints many unflattering portraits of a city where he has spent significant parts of his adult years.