The Black Balloon Issa Down Analysis

In present-day society, families go through several problems and arguments regarding numerous issues which would have been considered unacceptable in past times. Throughout a variety of different cultures, the level of respect and obedience for one’s parents has diminished while the negotiation of conformity and rebellion has risen. This statement is supported and evidential in two different stories, “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. Although these stories represent different cultures, they both exemplify the values and importance of family relations; as well as demonstrate in every culture families face social problems. In both these stories, two major topics stood out which allowed me to compare each one to one

Conflict was used effectively in the short story to reveal the theme of the story. The boy has an internal conflict about which parent to stay with, and because his father left, he seemed to have favored him. He wanted him back so badly that every night, he watches him on the six o’clock news while wearing his old jackets. He was blinded by his father’s sudden departure that he forgot about what is really important. Additionally, another development in the short story’s conflict has been used effectively to reveal the theme. When the boy went to Macdonald’s to see his father’s true colors, he thought: “I finished my drink quickly, thankful that he had to be back in the studio for the news.” By the time he saw his dad for the first time in a while, he knew he was not the man he thought he was. At that moment, he also realized that he lost sight of what he had all this time: His mother’s unconditional love. If it wasn’t for the characterization of

Parenting played a big role in shaping the two boys lives. Having a parental mentor is important because they assist and guide children to take the right decisions about their lives. The author had his two parents at the beginning of his life. Also, the author’s parents, especially his mother, tried to raise him in an effective way wanting him to know the right from wrong at an early age. “No mommy loves you, like I love you, she just wants you to do the right thing” (Moore 11). This quote was a live example of the author’s life with his parents. It reflected the different ways his parents used to teach him “the right thing.” Though his mother was upset from his action toward his sister, his father

In addition to this, belonging to a family is a key concept in this novel. The novel opens with an alluring introduction to the family; a blissful atmosphere is created through the picturesque icons of their family life. The composer uses small photograph like icons to allude towards the widely acknowledged contentment that is readily associated with the memories in a picture album. Tan introduces the motif of the paper crane which he carries through the length of his novel as a symbol of affection and belonging between the family members. The next pages signify the break in contentment as the man begins his journey and a salient image of the couple with their hands grasping the other’s parallels the anxiety and despair in their downcast facial expressions. Although the gloomy atmosphere, the light sepia tones in the picture allow an insight into the tender and loving relationship that the family members share. Upon the man’s departure the paper crane motif returns and he hands it to his daughter as a token of his undying love for her. His migratory experience is studded by the comfort and ease that he obtains from a picture of his family. In paralleled scenes on the boat and the new apartment, the

Writer Bly, talks about during his generation, paternal society, being uniformity and how they “had an elaborate and internally consistent form” (250) during paternal society, kids learned how to talk to the adults, to be respectful and responsible at school yet, they still asked for their authority when to make decisions. He says hundred years ago men and women in photograph express in a way “We’re adults. There’s nothing we can do about it.” (250)

Family. It is a very fluid yet rigid idea. It has a wealth of definitions, all of which range in degree and magnitude, and vary from person to person; yet the concept of how a family should work and operate is very concrete in most American minds. Family is a bond that is crafted every second of everyday until it is powerful, and this can shape beliefs, outlooks, and confidence. A study found that children with father figures that are highly involved benefit because an immense range of emotions are modelled to them as children, and consequently they will be more adapt at recognizing and expressing their own emotions. In contrast children

Families are organized with fathers as the figures in control and the mothers are subordinate to them. Mothers, however, take compete charge of the children, and so from a child’s point of view, mothers appear to be authority figures as well. Children are obligated to respect and obey these authoritative figures. (p. 103)

I am constantly drawn to the emotional staple in my family, support. Family support systems are just one of the most enriching, and rewarding aspects of daily family life. Through time the family archetype has gone through a tremendous amount of metamorphosis, including the most notable, and varying present-day version. No matter what creed, color, gender, sexuality, or demographic, the support system of today's families are astoundingly positive. Some people, like Ehrenreich, might say that families in and of themselves are a "nest of pathology," but when you look at families in the malls, parks, or other public places, the bruising, or outing of emotional tension, pressure, or abuse is non-existent.

It is impossible to find a family that is problem free and does not go through its ups and downs. Seasons often marks a progress, here it not only sets the way for Doodles progress of becoming like a normal boy, but it is used as a way to show the growth of the sibling relationship between the two brothers. Seasons and weather play an important role in setting the tone and mood of the story. An example of the motif of seasons and weather is seen in the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst as doodles progress goes along with each season. This motif is used to develop the relationship between Doodle and his brother as evident through the clove of seasons, summer, and storms.

In Without Apology, filmmaker Susan Hamovitch made me experience a wide range of emotions as I learned more and more about her brother Alan. Within the first minutes of the film, I began to feel despondent. It was difficult for me to wrap my head around the idea that in 1958 the advice given to Alan’s parents by the best medical professionals was to place their child in an institution and forget about him. From the moment they left Alan at Letchworth Village the family seldom spoke his name. Therefore, when Susan said “I didn’t see him as a real person” I thought how difficult it most have been for her to go on this journey. It was towards the end of the film that I started to feel hopeful. This journey that Susan decided to embark, which began by her going to a support group, then visiting Alan at Letchworth, and reading Alan’s records, was very inspiring. For me, the film evoked these feelings as sadness as well as feelings of joy. I knew that it was a real life story and if this was the experience of one family who knows how many more families went through the same or a similar situation and were broken up. By the end of the film I was hopeful because of many reasons. Alan was not alone in this world. There was someone that cared about him enough to have the courage to expose her most protected secret.

The theme of the novel is that everything is not what it seems. This was demonstrated when the author wrote “I didn't know there was a sketch on my painting. I flip over the paper, to see what dad has written on the back. Theres the date, 5 years ago. And the words Eloise, Les Deux Chemins. Wait. I don't understand”(Friedman 158). This quote demonstrates the theme because she thought the skech was of her but it was really something else. The sketch was of her secret sister Eloise that she did not know she had. When Summer found out that the painting of what she thought was her for the past 5 years was actually someone else she was shocked and she was also upset with her dad for not telling her.

In his stage play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller introduces us to the family of Willy Lohan. There is greater influence of the parents to the children as is portrayed in the play. Willy Loman laxity has weighed heavily on the conduct of his sons, Happy and Biff. The main theme in the play is sustained in the play with the sons of Willy attaining their personality from their father. We learn that one’s upbringing shapes their behavior. The actions of those within one’s surrounding influence one’s behavior. This is quite evident in the case of a parent child interaction as portrayed in the play. Since most the time the child will look up to their parents, their ethical and

Louise Mark, John Olesen, Joanne Fallon explain in A manual for chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment that, “Most of our rules are learned from our parents, who learned the rules from their parents etc. This means that dysfunctional families are generational, and if left untreated, will become more severe in ensuing generations” (Mark, Olesen, Fallon, 67). These scholars explain that dysfunctional families result from several generations of corrupted laws, thus, one’s ancestors set the standards and following generations have simply carried on the customs. The scholars go on to compare and contrast several traits that categorize a family as dysfunctional as opposed to nurturing, and one of the prominent qualities seem to be “everyone must conform to strongest person’s ideas and values” (97). This quality is clearly identifiable in both Yates and Tolstoy’s novels, as the root of the familial

Children ought to express reverence and respect towards their parents as an act of courtesy to an elder. However, to some extent, parents should give respect to some of their children’s decisions or opinions so as to establish trust and close relationships within the family as well to avoid tension and miscommunication. In The Chosen, an incident occurs where Reuven comes home late, and Reuven’s father expresses his concern. “I’m awfully sorry I came back so late, abba.”

Two sets of families filled with emotions, hopes, and promises to embark on separate journeys. Anticipating the feelings and emotions of meeting up with their loves ones. Different situations cause for different reactions, with similar causes. The short story “A Pair of Tickets” written by Amy Tan and the story “Everyday Use” written by Alice Walker both gives insight on the true gut wrenching feelings behind the importance of family and how a mother’s opinion can affect the actions and mindset of her children. Each story has a common foundation, but splits into separate routes. Noting these similarities and differences can truly help us understand how a family’s past can affect each piece of the future.