Dowsing By John Carrier Analysis

The way the author recalls his father's teachings shows how the author regrets losing the secrets his father give him. The first piece of evidence is the father's statement after teaching his son to dowse. The father tells his son that “[dowsing is] something [his] own father taught [him]” (Carrier 95). The son is comparing himself to his father because the son did not succeed in learning to dowse from his father but the father succeeded in learning from his own. Another piece of evidence is his father's further statement. He said that “dowsing [is not] something you learn in school [and it is not] useless" (Carrier 95). The author quotes his father's statement because he totally agrees with his father. It is after his father pass away he
In his childhood “[he] was very intoxicated by the game of spelling” (Carrier 94). The game of spelling brought his interest in writing. The father knows that the son is “no longer interested in hearing him tell of his adventures” (Carrier 94) because of the son's new found interest. This proves that the narrator wanted to become an author at a very young age. He became a prolific author who “wrote [many] books” (Carrier 95). If an author does not like to write he or she will never finish even one book. Therefore, he genuinely loves writing. He also seems to be very famous for his stories because “someone began to make a film about [his] village and its inhabitants” (Carrier 95) and “the film people ... [would call him] to take [his] place” (Carrier 96). It shows that he plays an important role in the film they are making. I think he feels proud of himself because people would make a film about him for the stories he writes.
From what I understand from the story I think the author makes the right decision to follow his dream to become a writer but I think it is a pity that his father's secret is now forever