A Fathers Story
A Father’s Story By Andre Dubus
Eng 125 Introduction to Literature
Yolanda Payne
Instructor Miranda Saake
May 24, 2011
A Father’s Story
Stories often have a main character that is centered on because he/she fails at some responsibility of theirs or falls short of their goal. In "A Father 's Story" written by Andre Dubus, Luke Ripley is a character that succeeds in his responsibilities as a father. Luke shows love, compassion and above all a protective instinct and desire to help his daughter. He emphasizes that he is very religious although perhaps not very devout. All of these characteristics help him fulfill his fatherly duties to his daughter during her stay at his house. Luke has had an interesting life preceding the main events of the story. He has lost his entire family, making him alone in a large house with nothing but horses and a radio to keep him company. Despite those trials, Luke has it inside him to continually show love to his family when they do return, especially to his daughter even though she kills a man. Andre Dubus emphasizes this love and compassion Luke has through some of the background information he gives leading up to the main events of the story. Dubus shows small details that Luke a centers his attention on and the efforts that Luke puts forth to try and love his family after they leave him. There also comes a point in the story where Luke 's heart 's "longing to love" as he calls it, makes him bitter with Father Paul. Luke 's friendship with Father Paul brings about another very interesting character trait in Luke. This is his religious side. Based on the way that Luke recounts the events of his life, religion is a mayor part and focus of his life. He seems not to be very devout and strict; he says that "being a real Catholic is too hard." Still though, he goes to each Sunday Mass and Father Paul is his best, and in truth his only friend. Luke wakes up early each morning and rides his horse to the
Eng 125 Introduction to Literature
Yolanda Payne
Instructor Miranda Saake
May 24, 2011
A Father’s Story
Stories often have a main character that is centered on because he/she fails at some responsibility of theirs or falls short of their goal. In "A Father 's Story" written by Andre Dubus, Luke Ripley is a character that succeeds in his responsibilities as a father. Luke shows love, compassion and above all a protective instinct and desire to help his daughter. He emphasizes that he is very religious although perhaps not very devout. All of these characteristics help him fulfill his fatherly duties to his daughter during her stay at his house. Luke has had an interesting life preceding the main events of the story. He has lost his entire family, making him alone in a large house with nothing but horses and a radio to keep him company. Despite those trials, Luke has it inside him to continually show love to his family when they do return, especially to his daughter even though she kills a man. Andre Dubus emphasizes this love and compassion Luke has through some of the background information he gives leading up to the main events of the story. Dubus shows small details that Luke a centers his attention on and the efforts that Luke puts forth to try and love his family after they leave him. There also comes a point in the story where Luke 's heart 's "longing to love" as he calls it, makes him bitter with Father Paul. Luke 's friendship with Father Paul brings about another very interesting character trait in Luke. This is his religious side. Based on the way that Luke recounts the events of his life, religion is a mayor part and focus of his life. He seems not to be very devout and strict; he says that "being a real Catholic is too hard." Still though, he goes to each Sunday Mass and Father Paul is his best, and in truth his only friend. Luke wakes up early each morning and rides his horse to the
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