A Fathes Hero
Jessica Ramos
Darren Meritz
English 1302
February 12, 2013
A Father’s Hero “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” (Plato) For Father Mulcahy having heroes in his childhood was beneficial because Plato provided an easy comforting getaway, Joe proved that Father Mulcahy could defend himself, and together both Joe and Plato provided balance in Father Mulcahy’s life. After given the chance to talk to the slowly dying Champion Joe Cavanaugh, Father Mulcahy begins to apologize to Joe for not having the time to come and talk sooner. During the apology Father Mulcahy admits to admiring not only Joe, but also Plato in Father Mulcahy’s childhood days. Father Mulcahy then explained how Plato acknowledged a wonderful dream life for Father Mulcahy would escape to when times were not so easy during his childhood. Then admits that as a child Father Mulcahy’s “real life was less than ideal” up until he had witnessed Joe’s response to the fight against Tony Giovanetti had made it possible for Father Mulcahy to “defend [himself] and still maintain [his] principles”. Thus Father Mulcahy compared Plato and Joe, two very different individuals were, who were similar inside being that both were admirable and good. Father Mulcahy admits he had decided then, that he would always be a little like both of his childhood heroes, like Plato ‘in the ideal plane” and like Joe “in the real world” and thanked Joe for opening his eyes.
Finding “a place apart, a kind of refuge” (Sonheim) is key for troubled children, and Father Mulcahy dreamed about escaping to the Promised Land filled with “rambling fields and trees.” Plato’s ideal plane, a perfect world, quickly became the
Darren Meritz
English 1302
February 12, 2013
A Father’s Hero “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” (Plato) For Father Mulcahy having heroes in his childhood was beneficial because Plato provided an easy comforting getaway, Joe proved that Father Mulcahy could defend himself, and together both Joe and Plato provided balance in Father Mulcahy’s life. After given the chance to talk to the slowly dying Champion Joe Cavanaugh, Father Mulcahy begins to apologize to Joe for not having the time to come and talk sooner. During the apology Father Mulcahy admits to admiring not only Joe, but also Plato in Father Mulcahy’s childhood days. Father Mulcahy then explained how Plato acknowledged a wonderful dream life for Father Mulcahy would escape to when times were not so easy during his childhood. Then admits that as a child Father Mulcahy’s “real life was less than ideal” up until he had witnessed Joe’s response to the fight against Tony Giovanetti had made it possible for Father Mulcahy to “defend [himself] and still maintain [his] principles”. Thus Father Mulcahy compared Plato and Joe, two very different individuals were, who were similar inside being that both were admirable and good. Father Mulcahy admits he had decided then, that he would always be a little like both of his childhood heroes, like Plato ‘in the ideal plane” and like Joe “in the real world” and thanked Joe for opening his eyes.
Finding “a place apart, a kind of refuge” (Sonheim) is key for troubled children, and Father Mulcahy dreamed about escaping to the Promised Land filled with “rambling fields and trees.” Plato’s ideal plane, a perfect world, quickly became the
Cited: Hoffer, Richard. "Bittersweet Science." Sports Illustrated 3 Dec. 2012. Popular Culture Collection. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Letnes, Ron. "Nurturing nonviolence at camp." Camping Magazine Mar.-Apr. 1993: 47. Popular Culture Collection. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Sonheim, Amy. "The Picture Books ' Fantasy Worlds: Architectural Solutions." Maurice Sendak. New York, N.Y.: Twayne Publishers, 1991. 80-99. Rpt. in Children 's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 131. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.