The Charmer by Budge Wilson

"The Charmer" by Budge Wilson is a short story about a Canadian family that finds misfortune and conflict within their lives. Conflict being the predominant theme which directly affects all the participants in the family. The story is written in third person and narrated from the young girl Winifred's point of view. Budge Wilson uses Zack's smothered childhood, charming personality and irresponsible behaviour to create emotional conflict between members of the family.

Growing up as a happy and popular young man, Zack creates himself a perfect reputation which left room for love and smothering from his mother and two sisters. His mother and sisters love him very much and show this love by being at his every beckoning. Winifred is no exception; the love for Zack is shown by the extraction, "How be you wash my bike for me, Pose, Love?" I would be halfway to the kitchen for bucket and rags before he stopped speaking. [And] I was Zachary's willing slave. Slavery in fact, was a vogue in our house."(Wilson,101). Zack from a very young age is overwhelmed with love and good deeds sent in his direction. He takes advantage of these kind gestures and never really appreciates what was being done for him. This lack of appreciation and constant smothering is noticed by his father at later stages in the story and creates a level of confliction between them throughout the story. His father makes the mistake of not saying anything about his disagreement with the way Zack is treated and allows the conflict to continue. "Even Dad took a long time to wake up. You wouldn't think a fourteen - or sixteen-year-old-boy could hoodwink a father... [And] Dad would just leave the room and go out to his work shed and sit and rock and rock in that old chair of his." (Wilson,103). His father new there was a problem but did not act on it until the situation reached its climax which resulted in Zack leaving home. The problem is allowed to escalate at the time. The father does not play as big of a role in Zack's life. Due to mothers love for Zack she allows him to get away with a lot of things that most mothers would not. One day she baked a cake for the church bazaar and left a sign warning nobody to eat it. She came home to find a slice gone and realised it was Zack that took the slice.

Then my mother would laugh, we'd all laugh, and Mom would mix up the batter for the new cake, a smile playing upon her lips. "Go ahead!" she'd say, with a fake sigh. "Have another piece. You certainly are the limit!" (Wilson,102).

From this young age Zack is taught that he could do something knowing he should not and stand a very good chance of getting away with it. This lack of discipline from his parents sparks a level of irresponsibility into his perfect reputation and the struggle for Zack begins.

Zack is known by his piers, family and friends as a charming boy; to begin with this helps Zack along in life, but soon enough the conflict of all his false charm catches up to him. He finds happiness in being able to show off his charisma and unique personality. His character makes it very easy for people to love him. His sisters from a young age always loved and idolised him. "At that age I felt something more intense. I was bewitched. My heart lay open and eager. He could take it and me, and do with us what he would." (Wilson, 101). The way he could open up people's hearts does not directly relate to the conflict he created. It is a magical talent he possesses, but when his family's emotions come into play he manages to take their hearts in his hand, and then grasp, grip and break them. He takes advantage of his ability to charm his family; just like the way he was taught to take advantage of his sisters and his mother's smothering. He uses his charm to get himself out of trouble.

"My mother, my queen!" he might say. "How could someone with any taste buds at all ignore the creation of so great a cook? The master cook of the whole of this city!" The he would give her one of his special bear hugs. Or he might get down on one or both of his knees. "Forgive me, duchess. [And] "Thank you, my angel." She'd put her head on one side with that adoring look of hers, and say, "Be off with you! You're a real devil!" (Wilson, 102).

His creative use of words and constant flattery could fool his family into forgiveness. This method of getting people's gratitude did not last forever as eventually his era came to an end when his loved ones learnt to see past his charm. His constant apologies are another form of his charm. "Zack delivered apologies that would have bought tears to a preacher's eyes." (Wilson, 103). This caption shows he is able to continue to get away with whatever he wanted. His younger sister is the first to see through Zack's falseness and it is shown by the line: "The kind of dramatic repentance has a lot more clout than simple, everyday good behaviour, and he really knew how to bring it off." (Wilson, 103). The extract shows Winnifred's honest opinion of Zack and how he uses his charm to

...