Father and Son Relationships in Bernard McLaverty’s ‘Father and Son’ and ‘Trojan Sofa’
analytical Essay
601 words
Bernard McLaverty’s ‘Father and Son’ and ‘Trojan Sofa’ both explore the relationships between parent and child. The interaction between parent and child in these texts contrast greatly, leaving the reader to consider the complexities of family relationships. ‘Father and Son’ outlines a tragic story in which the father tries to help his son with his drug habit, but is unsuccessful and subsequently the son dies in his arms, whereas in ‘Trojan Sofa’ the father uses his son to do work for him, within a life of crime, and in turn, both of these situations are intensely difficult, but greatly different.
Both of these texts deal with problems, but in different ways, which McLaverty expertly portrays by hinting to us throughout what the problem could be, specifically in ‘Father and Son’ “I do not sleep. My father does not sleep” suggests to us as readers immediately that there is a problem, but that the father and son are closer than they actually think, as this quote is almost mirror imaged, reflecting their similarities. The father is trying to help his son, trying to be his best as a par...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how bernard mclaverty's "father and son" and "trojan sofa" explore the relationships between parent and child, leaving the reader to consider the complexities of family relationships.
- Analyzes how mclaverty's "father and son" and "trojan sofa" deal with problems, but in different ways.
- Compares the attitudes of the two sons in ‘father and son’ and ‘trojan sofa’.
- Analyzes how the method of narration confirms the difference in relationships. in "father and son", they both in turn narrate the text.
Related
- analytical
- John Ames Relationshipanalytical essayThe relationship between a father and a son can be expressed as perhaps the most critical relationship that a man endures in his lifetime. This is the relationship that influences a man and all other relationships that he constructs throughout his being. Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead explores the difficulty in making this connection across generations. Four men named John Ames are investigated in this story: three generations in one family and a namesake from a closely connected family. Most of these father-son relationships are distraught, filled with tension, misunderstanding, anger, and occasionally hostility. There often seems an impassable gulf between the men and, as seen throughout the pages of Gilead, it can be so intense that it creates
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how marilynne robinson's gilead explores the difficulty in making this connection across generations. the protagonist, john ames, intends to impede this cycle by leaving an extended letter to his young son.
- Analyzes how john ames is a reflective and astute congregationalist minister nearing the end of his life, living and preaching in gilead, iowa.
- Analyzes how john's father abandons him when edward leaves gilead for the south. although john remained loyal to his father’s beliefs, hometown, and father himself, he can't help but feel like it all failed.
705 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Gary's House By Debra Oswaldanalytical essayBorn in 1959, author Debra Oswald began writing as a teenager. She rose to prominence with the debut of Gary’s House where it was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Award. Many of her works features abandoned and neglected children that grow into adults to fight their own demons in the past. Oswald writes about the importance of a family’s psychology, both real and surrogate. In Gary’s House, Gary had a bad relationship with his father that lead to neglection and eventually hate but when Gary himself becomes a father he disregards his past to provide for his future child. This is the author’s intention of representing how important family is.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how debra oswald explores the concept of an aussie battler and how it perpetuates and challenges the common stereotype of australians
- Explains that debra oswald began writing as a teenager and rose to prominence with the debut of gary's house, where it was shortlisted for the nsw premier’s award.
- Analyzes how gary and dave are juxtaposing characters in the play, with christine and sue-anne being the other two. gary is hardworking and determined, while dave is laidback and lazy.
- Analyzes how gary is shown to perpetuate the dominant representations, but challenges the representation. gary revealed his emotions when sue-anne left him and threatened to have their baby adopted.
- Analyzes how demonstrates how strong the power of emotions can be to the point where it changes dave's carefree attitude into compassionate and empathetic
- Analyzes how oswald created a vivid image of the location and background in the play. the main location revolves around the general landscape in australia.
648 wordsRead More - A Collection of Book Reviews Dealing with Racismanalytical essayThis is a book that tells the important story about the social significance and long-standing implications of fatherless families from a seldom heard point of view. The male siblings are linked by their struggles achieve peace with father and with the women in their lives as they move from adolescence adulthood. This text is filled with rich characterization and visual imagery.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the story relates the cultural collision that occurs when christian english missionaries arrive among the ibos of nigeria, bringing along their european ways of life and religion.
- Analyzes how maya angelou's book provides a first-hand opinion and feelings of black americans who came to africa in search of their historical, spiritual and psychological home.
- Analyzes how bell's research led him to find descendants of slaves who lived on his ancestors' lands, and discovered a successful slave trader company owned by his family.
- Describes the collection of 124 transcripts of former slaves interviewed in the 1920s and 1930s, accompanied by recently restored recorded interviews that have been in library of congress since 1941.
- Analyzes how todd boyd challenges blacks to continue to articulate their cultural impressions as his final word.
- Analyzes how campbell's intriguing cast of characters reveal the fears of people caught in the position of shrinking opportunities and institutionalized stereotypes of race, gender, and class.
- Explains that your blues ain't like mine is a fictional book based on the racial injustices of the south.
- Analyzes how cleaver's book enables the reader to crawl inside the mind of a black revolutionary. he discusses his imprisonment, his life thereof, and how he ended up in prison.
- Analyzes how the delany sisters, ages 101 and 103, are living records of the seismic changes that have affected black america since emancipation. they voice that they are not optimistic about the future of race relations.
- Describes graham's non-fiction book about the upper-echelon blacks of the community, which sheds light on the black upper class living awkwardly between white america and mainstream black america.
- Opines that this book provides a plethora of information for those who want to continue the struggle of african americans.
- Recommends john griffin's book to those who are intolerant of racial injustice.
- Analyzes how malcolm x used prison to get back into the system where he could make a difference. he emerged from the black ghetto to fight against racial segregation.
- Illustrates the trials and tribulations charlayne hunter-gualt experienced throughout her life. she was one of two black students to desegregate the university of georgia.
- Analyzes how little exposes a race and class of the characters in order to reveal them in their most simple form. through this process, identity, infidelity, and race relations are explored.
- Analyzes how liu explores his identity as a second-generation chinese american and the struggles of asian americans with their identity in america.
- Analyzes how the book points out some very powerful issues that are still controversial today. interracial dating, teen pregnancy, and premarital sex are all covered in the novel.
- Analyzes how the novel weaves the imagery of the land and language of south africa with dynamic symbolism.
- Analyzes how sethe, who fled from slavery on a kentucky plantation, is haunted by the spirit of two-year-old daughter she had killed when threatened with recapture. through the different voices and memories of this novel, the reader experiences american slavery.
- Analyzes the story of a boy and his dog, which is no lasie tale. along the journey there are gunshots, drugs, poverty, alligators and industrial sludge.
- Analyzes how shelby stelle argues that blacks have been betrayed twice by slavery and segregation, and government mandated group preferences that rob them of self-esteem.
- Analyzes how the characters of the logan family illustrate the undercurrents and overt suspicions that defined race relations in the old south.
- Analyzes how booker t. washington wrote a compelling narrative that deserves the attention of today's readers.
- Analyzes west's book of eight essays that address controversial issues that face african americans, including nihilism in black america, affirmative action, black-jewish relationships, sexuality, and the legacy of malcolm x.
- Analyzes how the book tells the important story about the social significance and long-standing implications of fatherless families from a seldom heard point of view. the male siblings are linked by their struggles achieve peace with father and with the women in their lives.
1886 wordsRead More - Henry Lawson Distinctively Visual Essayanalytical essayThe love one has for their family causes one to do anything to keep them out of harm, including taking the role of mother/father. Henry Lawson creates an image in his readers’ mind of the protagonist and all that she does for her
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the australian bush is a harsh, dangerous and lonely land with no one around for miles. henry lawson and marshall davis-jones and baz luhrmann paint an image of what is normal for someone
- Analyzes how henry lawson creates an image in his readers' minds of the protagonist and all that she does for her family. the emotive language conveys the protectiveness and fear the drover's wife experiences when faced with the knowledge that the snake is in the house with them.
- Analyzes how marshall davis-jones' 'spelling father' shows how love for the family allows for single parents to assume the role of the other.
- Analyzes how henry lawson's "in a dry season" illustrates the harsh, unforgiving and dangerous australian outback through descriptive language and visual imagery.
- Analyzes how ‘australia’ deals with an english woman who comes to australia to persuade her husband to sell their bankrupt cattle farm.
- Analyzes how the eccentric mind of the bush undertaker is seen through the literary techniques as a result of isolation from civilisation and the necessity for survival.
- Analyzes how distinctively visual images are created in the prescribed texts ‘the drover’s wife’, ‘in a dry season’ and ’the bush undertaker’ by henry lawson and related material ‘spelling father‘ by marshall davis-jones.
1018 wordsRead More - Broken Lives by Estelle Blackburnanalytical essayThe chapter “A Fathers Influence” is constructed with several techniques including selection of detail, choice of language, characterization, structure and writers point of view to reveal Blackburn’s values of social acceptance, parenting, family love, and a father’s influence. Consequently revealing her attitude that a child’s upbringing and there parents influence alter the characterization of a child significantly.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the fourth chapter of estella blackburn's non-fiction novel broken lives exposes readers to eric edgar cooke and john button’s time of adolescence.
- Analyzes how blackburn's chapter "a fathers influence" is constructed with several techniques including selection of detail, choice of language, characterization, structure and writers point of view to reveal her values of social acceptance, parenting, and family love.
- Analyzes how blackburn's choice of language is impetrative in positioning the reader to see button as the protagonist and cooke as an antagonist.
320 wordsRead More - Identity and Responsibility: Fatherhood in The Fixer "Permit me to ask, Yakov Shepsovitch, are you a father?" "With all my heart." "Then you can imagine our anguish," sighed the sad-eyed Tsar. (Malamud, 332) This passage, coming in the final pages of Bernard Malamud's The Fixer, represents a human reality commonly portrayed in both real life and fiction: the truth one feels is often much more significant than the sum total of the events that have actually transpired.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the passage, coming in the final pages of bernard malamud's the fixer, represents a human reality commonly portrayed in both real life and fiction: the truth is often more significant than the sum total of the events that have actually transpired.
- Analyzes the dramatic moments that shine throughout the final chapters of the fixer, satiating readers who spent several hundred pages in quiet, melancholy anticipation.
- Analyzes how yakov's fatherhood represents identity and responsibility in the novel. he must accept himself, as a jew, and his responsibility to his wife, family, community, his past and himself.
- Analyzes how the novel makes no indication about yakov's faith, family, or fate. he was raised in an orphanage and experienced a pogrom for himself.
- Analyzes how yakov's father-in-law, shmuel, steadfastly acts as his mentor and father figure throughout the novel.
- Analyzes how shmuel's relationship with yakov mirrors the way he feels about his daughter. he uses religion as a tool to put up with misfortune.
807 wordsRead More - The Best Father In This Man, By Brando Skyhorse 'analytical essayInTake this Man, written by Brando Skyhorse, Brando portrays himself as a child who is in an awful environment where a berserk mother raised him. After being told that his biological father abandoned him, Brando was emulating his other father figures that unexpectedly came in his life because he was seeking a role model for admiration. Eventually, readers discover that these “fathers” were lacking the beneficial characteristics of what a father should provide to his offspring. However, most readers would acknowledge that Frank was the best father that came in Brando’s life. Throughout the story, we identify that Frank attempts to guide Brando when he hits his lowest points and commits to assisting Brando even though Maria prevented Frank from being involved with Brando. This demonstrates how Frank possesses some favorable qualities of a father.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how brando skyhorse's take this man portrays himself as a child who is in an awful environment where his mother raised him.
- Argues that rudy was the best father in brando's life because he was able to provide money to continue paying for his tuition.
- Analyzes how frank was a hardworking man trying to earn money, unlike an immoral father like robert, who stole other people's possessions to finance money for brando.
- Analyzes how frank unconditionally supports brando despite his identity as a young adult.
- Analyzes how frank is an outstanding father figure out of the five because the others lack some characteristics that frank holds. brando persevered and became a stanford undergraduate student.
1056 wordsRead More - Nothing hurts more than being betrayed by a loved one, Christopher’s father has no trust in Christopher and tells him that his “Mother died 2 years ago”(22) and Christopher thinks his mother died of a heart attack. When Christopher finds out his father lied, he runs away to live with his mother and his father despritally looks for him and while looking for him realizes the importance of telling the truth. When someone betrays one’s trust, they can feel morally violated. Once Christopher finds his mother, she begins to realize how unfit her living conditions are for Christopher and brings him back to his father, bring him “[..] home in Swindon”(207) Christopher feels incredibly hurt and distressed he does not want to see his father. Whether a relationship can be repaired depends entirely on whether trust can or cannot be restored. Christopher’s father works very hard to regain his trust, he tells his son “[..] I don’t know about you, but this...this just hurts too much”, Christopher’s father is dealing with the result of being dishonest with his son and himself.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mark haddon's the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime portrays trust as a common theme in modern novels.
- Analyzes how trust is important for people who don't live with autism. christopher is sensitive and follows a complicated system and is affected by being treated badly.
- Analyzes how christopher's father is constantly lying to him because he doesn't want to face the reality of his relationships and his world is falling apart. his mother is honest in her letters to christopher.
- Analyzes how mark haddon's novel the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime mirrors the idea that trust is the glue that holds relationships together.
960 wordsRead More - Firstly, one’s identity is largely influenced by the dynamics of one’s relationship with their father throughout their childhood. These dynamics are often established through the various experiences that one shares with a father while growing up. In The Glass Castle and The Kite Runner, Jeannette and Amir have very different relationships with their fathers as children. However the experiences they share with these men undou...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how john connolly's novel, the book of lost things, focuses on the dynamics of the relationships between jeannette and amir and the environment to which they are exposed as children.
- Explains that one's identity is influenced by the dynamics of one’s relationship with their father throughout their childhood. in the glass castle and the kite runner, jeannette and amir have very different relationships.
- Analyzes how jeannette's relationship with her father, rex walls, is heavily affected by the various facets of his complex character.
- Analyzes how a strained relationship exists between amir and his father, baba, in the kite runner.
- Analyzes how jeannette and amir's relationships with their fathers shape their personalities as adults.
- Analyzes how jeannette and amir's identities as adults are shaped by their relationships and experiences they shared with their fathers while growing up.
- Analyzes how jeannette lives a dysfunctional, unsettled life due to her non-traditional and irresponsible parents in the glass castle.
- Compares how the environments amir and hassan are exposed to while growing up in afghanistan shape aspects of their personalities when they are older.
1727 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Marigolds By Eugenia Collieranalytical essayIt is the first time that Lizabeth hears a man cry. She could not believe herself because her father is “a strong man who could whisk a child upon his shoulders and go singing through the house.” As the centre of the family and a hero in her heart, Lizabeth’s dad is “sobbing like the tiniest child”She discovers that her parents are not as powerful or stable as she thought they were. The feeling of powerlessness and fear surges within her as she loses the perfect relying on her dad. She says, “the world had lost its boundary lines.” the “smoldering emotions” and “fear unleashed by my father’s tears” had “combined in one great impulse toward
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the narrator, lizabeth, realizes that the world is more than just dusty shantytown and a squad of kids she plays with; there are also the complex realities of depression, indifference and poverty.
- Analyzes how lizbeth's overhearing the conversation between her parents is a catalyst for change because she recognizes her role in her family and community.
- Analyzes how lizabeth's family is in a situation worse than she thought they were. collier describes poverty as "the cage in which we all were trapped, and our hatred of it was still vague."
- Analyzes how lizabeth discovers her parents' vulnerabilities when she overhears a man cry. the feeling of powerlessness and fear surges within her as she loses the perfect relying on her dad.
- Analyzes how lizabeth's destruction of the marigolds is an expression of her anger against the unfairness and her family’s powerlessness.
819 wordsRead More