Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Manning's Essay




Manning’s essay “Arm Wrestling With Father”, illustrates his physical contact with his father over the years, and how it begins to change. The relationship between father and son is more physical then mental. The father would never simply say “ I love you” or express emotions through cards, but through hugs or physical contact instead. So the father use to ask if the son wanted to arm wrestle and naturally he knew he would win, but they did it anyways. Manning would always try to beat his father, or overcome his strength, but it was no use. As he grew older, he learned to accept his dad’s strength and it didn’t really matter if he could beat him. So when the day he beat his father came, he was rather upset then proud. From his trip home he realized that he would rather let his father win, then loose the idea of his father being the protector, the strong guardian of the family. It scares him to think of his father growing old and week, and him having to carry his father as he once did for him. In reality there comes a time when the son posses the father’s trait of being the protector of the family, because it’s something the son will have to do for his own. His father also realizes this. Since the arm wrestling defeat, he knows now that his son has become stronger as he himself becomes older. His son will take care of him, just as he has taken care of his son.

To demonstrate his change successfully, it was important for Manning to begin with a match that leaves him “too bitter to smile” and then move backward to earlier bouts of arm wrestling. This strategy affects the way the reader specifically identifies the process of how age plays a factor in the way he thinks. His maturity brings him to think more about the dept of what has happened when he finally beats his father. if he happened to beat his father when he was younger, he would of boasted over the idea, not knowing what the outcome represents.

Overall, the main purpose of the essay was to inform the reader of just how special the relationship with parents can be. Parents teach their kids the same lessons they were taught because, when it is time, the kids will soon become parents as well. It’s a never ending cycle. One does not live simply for their self, but for those who come after, and before them. In other words, instead of your parents taking care of you, you will be taking care of them. It’s actually scary we see our parents as our protectors, our providers, and our care givers, but ultimately it is our responsibility to return that favor. Nothing is for free; if you take you must give back in return. Hopefully, If you take care of your parents, your children will see what a good role model you are and take care of you too. The good thing about this system is that you always have someone taking care of you.

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