Consider the Lobster

David Foster Wallace employs expository, narrative, and descriptive writing in this article, weaving objective reporting with narrative story-telling. When it comes to his use of footnotes, he uses them to add information to aid the readers, elaborate on a point, or explore a similar topic. For example, on page 55, Wallace uses a footnote to add emphasis to his point in the article where he describes lobsters as "giant sea-insects". In the footnote he explains that midcoasters in fact call lobsters bugs! While originally describing the festival and the traditions around it, Wallace moves into discussing the moral implications of cooking and eating lobster. In this way, one can understand the title "Consider the Lobster" as something to do before eating a lobster or any animal; consider the implications of your actions.