"The Father" by H. Garner and "Penny in the Dust" by E. Buckler
The father and son relationships in "Penny in the Dust" by E. Buckler and ""The Father" by H. Garner, have many contrasts and similarities. There are two contrasts between the short stories. One of the two is that in "The Father" the son, Johnny, was ahamed and angry with his father, and didnt want a relationship with him. He does not respect his father. In the story, the father has a drinking problem. Johnny's father is never there for his son and because of that, they drifted apart. The relationship between the two of them never really exsisted and was never resolved. In "Penny in the Dust" the son did want a good relationship with his father. He pictured them laughing and talking and having a good time. But the two of them had trouble expressing their feelings toward each other. The son was afraid of letting his father down. But the penny that his father gave to him, helped them to tell each other how they really felt. And in the end their relationship resolved. Another contrast between the two relationships are that in "The Father" the son never thought that his relationship with his father would never get better because the two barely spoke. And their realtionship never resolved. In "Penny in the Dust" the son did think that his relationship with his father would get better. Also, the father had a positive epiphany when Pete (his son) told him about how he pictured them laughing and talking. And their relationship was resolved. Despite the contrasts, there are similarities also. One of them is the lack of communication. In "The Father" John Purcell (the father) and his son barely spoke to each other which led them to have a bad relationship, like a wedge between them. In "Penny in the Dust" the father and son had trouble expressing their feelings toward each other. They both loved each other, and the son especially wanted a better relationship with his father. Also another comparison between "Penny in the Dust" and "The Father" is that both fathers loved thier sons in their own unique way. In "Penny in the Dust" the father gave his son a penny. That penny really meant alot to the son, espically in the future when the father died. In "The Father" he shows his love by trying to make a good impression. Like, showering and putting on his "best suit" for his sons banquet. It is safe to say, that there are definetley contrasts and similarities in "Penny in the Dust" and "The Father"
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