Transcript An Allegorical Application Essay

An Allegorical Application
Essay
Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
A modern-day allegorical example
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The cave: pharmaceutical industry
The fire: researched findings
The puppeteers: pharmaceutical
industry marketing firms
The shadows: media-marketing of
wonder drugs (E.g., Phen-Phen weightlosing drug)
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The prisoners: the American public
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
Allegorical essay: Big Pharma.
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The cave: pharmaceutical industry
Americans have come to give much credibility and credence
to pharmaceutical companies and their drugs to better our
health. This modern-day boom in demand for such drugs has
spawn a multi-billion-dollar industry that seems to be more
driven to make profits than to make people healthier. In fact,
there has been no major cures discovered in the last fifty
years. Rather, we have only had drugs that maintained the
status quo—i.e., how we currently are. This gives the
pharmaceutical companies a constant cash flow, rather than
a one-time cash flow from selling drugs that cure.
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
Allegorical essay: Big Pharma.

The fire: researched findings
Although pharmaceutical companies may design
their own research to suit their purposes, they are
still mandated by law to produce credible and
methodical clinical research before selling any drug
to the American people. This research normally
takes many years, and the results are submitted to
the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) for
approval. So, more often than not, this information
is truthful information, with FDA approval.
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
Allegorical essay: Big Pharma.

The puppeteers: pharmaceutical industry’s
marketing and consulting firms
Most pharmaceutical companies hire marketing or
consulting firms such as the Anderson Consulting
Group, or CoActive Marketing Group to launch
multi-million-dollar media campaigns to niche
(specific) markets. These firms often take the
researched findings and make them into
memorable and digestible information for the
public.
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
Allegorical essay: Big Pharma.

The shadows=media marketing of wonder
drugs (E.g., Phen-Phen weight-losing drug)
The marketing or consulting firms hired by the
pharmaceutical industry are often the best in their
business. In fact, they are very skillful and
strategic in marketing their brand-name drugs;
sometimes even making the drugs seem like
panacea—i.e., a cure-all. The aim here is
oftentimes to hook in long-term customers.
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
Allegorical essay: Big Pharma.
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The prisoners: the American public
In her article “The Truth about the Drug Companies”, Marcia
Angell says, “Every day Americans are subjected to a barrage of
advertising by the pharmaceutical industry. Mixed in with the
pitches for a particular drug—usually featuring beautiful people
enjoying themselves in the great outdoors—is a more general
message. Boiled down to its essentials, it is this: ‘…You are the
beneficiaries of this ongoing achievement of the American free
enterprise system, so be grateful, quit whining, and pay up.’”
(www.nybooks.com/articles/17244).
“Americans now spend a staggering $200 billion a year on
prescription drugs, and that figure is growing at a rate of about 12
percent a year (down from a high of 18 percent in 1999)”
(www.imshealth.com).
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School
Hook
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Why is it important to know the truth?
What is the danger of losing (or never
having) truth in our lives?
Should the truth ever be relative,
meaning that it can change based on
situation?
Why is it important that the knowledge
we have be truthful?
What is the danger of losing (or never
having) knowledge in our lives?
Property of Mr. Cleon M. McLean
Department of English
Ontario High School