Tony Earley’s essay “Somehow Form a Family” presents a unique exploration of family life in America via the lens of satire. This paper delves into Earley’s adept use of exaggerated satire to illustrate the individual American family experience under the guise of complete commonality. Through employing formal analysis, television references, and biographical anecdotes, Earley develops a narrative that suggests universal experiences to be shared by all, only to reveal the diversity and complexity of every household. Insight from scholars Valentina Varinelli and Ayelet Kohn provides a deeper analysis of the implications of Tony Earley’s satirical approach. Their assessment highlights Earley’s use of humor as a coping mechanism, his navigation of personal hardships, and his use of satire to challenge naïve narratives of families shown in media. This paper demonstrates how Earley’s essay stands as a thought-provoking commentary on the manifold nature of family dynamics. Ultimately, Earley’s essay invites his audience to reassess how they perceive commonality and variance in the American family landscape
