English Essay: On the Lake

The definition of a good parent: Is it being the sensible grownup that is the perfect example of how to act properly, or does this interpretation of a good parent also include a "wild" site that allows breaking the rules from time to time for the fun of it? "On the Lake", by Loaf Alfonse 2008, he reviews the problem of being a responsible adult and a good role model and yet being able to be an interesting and fun person to be with. It is a typical novel genre text, by the in medias-rest, the short period of time the story trenches on, the few characters, and by the "open" ending of the story.

The main theme in the short story is being a good parent. By this not mean doing what is the safest and the right thing to do, but doing what is fun and exciting for your children. This is being expressed in the act of wild cruising on the lake. This is neither a safe nor a responsible thing to do, but it is fun for the son, although the cruise almost took a fatal turn, by capsizing. Afterward, it is about whether or not Oscar is to blame for this accident, which he tries to avoid at his very best by blaming Whelm (p. 4, II. 5-36) whenever he mentions the episode, serving scotch or by offering a game of cards. It the story, it seems as if Margaret is very overprotecting towards Oscar. She sits with him till he falls asleep, and constantly checks on him while he is sleeping, listening to his breath takes, and if she can not hear it, she puts her ear to his mouth and nose (p. 2, II. 2-6). This persistent surveillance is caused by the near-drowning experience her son Just had. Oscar is still very young, 6 years old, and is still not aware of what s best for him, and is not capable of estimating the risks and dangers by his actions.

He saw how Whelm was sailing and wanted to do the same, unaware of the danger by doing so. Whelm plays a crucial in the outcome of this story. Not only he is responsible for the rescue of Jonas and Oscar, but he is also partly the reason for the hazard sailing by Oscar. While Whelm making tight turns and wild sailing on the lake, Jonas would watch enthralled and fascinated. This later on result in Jonas wants to do the same thing in his boat but is disappointed with his father's boring cruising. "... You never do anything fun like the man in the white boat" (p. , II. 10-11), Jonas stated towards his father. Oscar became rather irritated and wanted to go home. He gave the boat full throttle and tried his best to impress his son doing tight turns on the lake. The urge to impress Jonas, and the safety violations, culminated in the boat capsizing. Whelm was watching Oscar and Jonas cruise, as his barbeques were heating up (p. 4, l. 36), and saw them overturn, and him and his friend, Bicorn, sailed out to save them from drowning. Happen next, a typical novel genre feature called a "cliffhanger".

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It ends with Oscar suspecting an evolving sexual relationship between Margaret and Vilely while being out for scotch and the binoculars with Boson (p. 6, II. 12-15). He checks to see if they are visible through the binoculars, but he is unable to see them in the living room. He runs up to the house, and finds them in the living room, having a suspicion about they had Just sat down again. As he steps in, Whelm says that it is late, and decides to leave with Bicorn. Margaret had found out that Oscar let go of Jonas' hand and that he was saved before Jonas. This was very upsetting for Margaret to find out Oscar left his son.

There is not a universal definition of a good father, but I believe there are certain clichés for the father figure, such as he is a strong, care-taking, encouraging, and inspiring role model whom you can rely on. These features it not entirely adjectives that fits the father in the novel, such as he lets Jonas down, and afterward is trying to blame others for his mistake, although he is trying as hard as possible to become a good parent. This story can be related to the movie which also is about an Indian father who wants the best for his sons, but in the end, has caused more harm than good.

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