The Disposable Rocket By John Updike

The Disposable Rocket by John Updike (pg. 549)

The Disposable Rocket by John Updike kicks off with a humorous simile comparing the male body to a bank account, “as long as it’s healthy, you don’t think about it much” (Updike 549).  He implies that men treat their bodies like an afterthought, it’s only important until a problem arises.  Updike then dives into the anatomy and desires of men.  He says a man’s urge to have sex with women parallel with their drive to live weightlessly or, “experience the release from gravity” (Updike 549).  The realization that males live carelessly highlights their likeliness to injury and poor care.  He then describes his relationship with his body as detached, almost as if he’s watching his body age and change.  In his career, Updike worked for The New Yorker and had numerous short stories, novels, and poems.  He wrote his essay when he was older, 60 years old.  At this time, Updike sees his pale ankles and balding head and realizes his relationship with his body has been like a movie.  Even though he sees what’s happening he doesn’t completely comprehend it.  This proves his message to emphasize the importance of taking care of one’s body and being in tune with it.  His careless treatment of his body didn’t allow him to see changes that he saw as strange when younger.  He mainly directs this idea towards a younger audience, who have time to take care of their bodies and learn about it.  He uses an anecdote to describe what he did when he was younger that showed how he treated his body.  He “used to jump and fall just for the joy of it” (Updike 550).  This automatically gives the reader a bridge to his life.  They see what he was like and can also relate.  When younger we tend to treat our bodies like they’re indestructible.  His relatable stories give the essay a nostalgic mood and allow you to feel remorse for not taking care of your own body, which effectively delivers his message.