How Paul McCartney is presented in the text

Alex Bilmes builds a powerful portrait of Paul McCartney in his article “Paul McCartney is Esquire’s August Cover Star” by presenting different sides of the singer.

First of all, McCartney is presented as being a tireless man, hardworking and unafraid of making a huge effort to please and entertain his audience: “I could keep rewinding through his past in this way to make my point about McCartney’s tireless globetrotting, but not with anything like the energy and enthusiasm the man himself can summon for each retrospective spectacular.” (ll. 12-18)

Then, McCartney’s rock star side is also presented. He is seen arriving at the airport and being met with “hysteria” (l. 30) by the public: “What’s a rock star without a hyperventilating frenzy to follow him around?” (ll. 37-40)

What is more, he is also depicted as being slightly proud and having celebrity whims, as he wears sunglasses to hide his face and treats his guitar like he would a person.

Then, McCartney is presented as being very organised and focused on his work:

His touring routine is well established: breakfast, a workout, perhaps a massage, then meetings with his team. If the weather's clement and security conditions are favourable, a bike ride around the locality of the hotel. If there's water nearby, he might try to get out on it in a boat. Today, he will rehearse with the band, then have a quiet early dinner with Nancy and a few friends from the touring party. (ll. 56-66...