Parental Expectations and Personal Choices: A Tale of Betrayal

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“The Act” by Adam Haslett narrates a story about a young man growing up and acting against his father’s wishes. The man grew up in Toledo, Ohio where his father worked for the union. As a young adult, he went to college to study liberal arts, excelling in each class to the point where his professor recommends him to graduate school. The man thought about the offer, but instead decides to attend law school, subsequently earning him a position as a ball buster, an act that his father warned him not to take prior to seeing him off for college. He supports his new family with the money he makes as a ball buster. Suddenly, the man’s father falls ill. The man visits his ill father and confronts him about his occupation. Times flies after his father’s death, the man urges his son Gabriel to run with him. The man trips, the impact injuring him so great he’s dying. The man keeps Gabriel by his side as he’s dying, awaiting condemnation. “The Act” suggests that acting against the wishes of a parent may lead to feelings of betrayal and a shattered pride.
Parents’ pride and joy lies within their children. They hold expectations and hopes …show more content…

In regards to demanding him to stay away from ball busting business, it can be interpreted as protection for him, his political stance, and every working citizens in the United States. The father doesn’t want him to turn into an antagonist, but rather strive for an occupation that ignites passion from the man. The father once said, “I’m just saying, remember what brought you here” to allude to the hardship he fought against with the help of the union to ensure proper employee care. By becoming a ball-buster, the man completely disregarded his father’s hardship and strength to raise him to become the man he is present, which cause the strain between the

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