Essay - The false moon
Essay – The False Moon
Any child needs stability and love from their parents while growing up. If this is not the case the child will go out and find “safe places” elsewhere. The main character in the short story “The False Moon”, by Shirley Golden from 2011 is not met with stability and love. He is almost forced out on his own trying to fit into society.
The main character is the first person narrator in the story. His name is Matt and describes himself in a rather bad way; “People don’t run from me; I’m lanky and skinny I’m told…” (lines 14-15, page 1). Matt tells the story of his teenage life. How his mother works all the time and is never there for him, and how he has trouble in school. The subjects are too difficult, and he doesn’t like any of his classmates. When he gets the chance Matt always skips school and goes on adventures in town. He doesn’t communicate with his mother or his teachers. When he is told to give his mother letters from school; he just hides them away instead. Because of the mothers behaviour this is not so difficult. She is not involved in her son’s life. The mother is described as a loud and messy woman. She comes home late, has bleached hair and bad nails.
Some symbols also indicate that the mother has a problem with heavy drinking and are treated violently. This affects the relationship between the mother and Matt. He doesn’t trust her, probably because of several years of disappointments and letdowns: “It’s probably bullshit, with her you can never tell” (line 12, page 1). Furthermore she is embarrassing, selfish and doesn’t understand appropriate social behaviour. It shows in the story when she hits on Matt’s best friend Mark, which results in Matt losing his friend who was his only safe haven. When Matt calls her a whore she hits him with a bottle. She is powerless, desperate and certainly not a good role model for Matt.
Matt hides his problems, just like when his mother covers up her bruises. That is why she is
Any child needs stability and love from their parents while growing up. If this is not the case the child will go out and find “safe places” elsewhere. The main character in the short story “The False Moon”, by Shirley Golden from 2011 is not met with stability and love. He is almost forced out on his own trying to fit into society.
The main character is the first person narrator in the story. His name is Matt and describes himself in a rather bad way; “People don’t run from me; I’m lanky and skinny I’m told…” (lines 14-15, page 1). Matt tells the story of his teenage life. How his mother works all the time and is never there for him, and how he has trouble in school. The subjects are too difficult, and he doesn’t like any of his classmates. When he gets the chance Matt always skips school and goes on adventures in town. He doesn’t communicate with his mother or his teachers. When he is told to give his mother letters from school; he just hides them away instead. Because of the mothers behaviour this is not so difficult. She is not involved in her son’s life. The mother is described as a loud and messy woman. She comes home late, has bleached hair and bad nails.
Some symbols also indicate that the mother has a problem with heavy drinking and are treated violently. This affects the relationship between the mother and Matt. He doesn’t trust her, probably because of several years of disappointments and letdowns: “It’s probably bullshit, with her you can never tell” (line 12, page 1). Furthermore she is embarrassing, selfish and doesn’t understand appropriate social behaviour. It shows in the story when she hits on Matt’s best friend Mark, which results in Matt losing his friend who was his only safe haven. When Matt calls her a whore she hits him with a bottle. She is powerless, desperate and certainly not a good role model for Matt.
Matt hides his problems, just like when his mother covers up her bruises. That is why she is