The Deeper Meaning Of Shaving By T. Barry

“Shaving” is a short story about a teenage boy who shaves his dying father. Throughout this story, there are many lines of dialogue, and although they may seem simple at first, most of them have a profound deeper meaning. For example, near the beginning of the book, where his father stays to Barry that “You could have used electric razor, I expected that.” Barry replies by saying that “You wouldn’t like it, you’ll get a closer shave this way.” In this quote, what they talk about on the surface is fairly obvious, the quality of the shave ad the razor. However, beneath the surface of this quote lies a much deeper meaning. Barry uses a real razor instead of an electric one, which shows not only his confidence in shaving skills, but also the fact that he has taken the family matters into his own hands, as to put his father into such danger like that, as

In a sense, the action of shaving his father with a bladed razor symbolizes his inheriting of the title has the head of the family.

A good example of this is the following quote:

"How old are you?" his father asked.

"Seventeen," Barry said. "Near enough seventeen."

"You're young," his father said, "to have this happen."

"Not too young," Barry said. "I'm bigger than most men."

"I think you are," his father said. (Norris _)

In this quote, one can clearly see that on the surface, they are simply talking about the death of his father. Although it is never explicitly stated it the story, it is implied many times that his father is on the cusp of death, and the reason why Barry is taking the time to shave his father is because so that his father can die on his own terms, his attitude of