Why Does Arturo Dislike His Father So Much?

Luke Richardson

Prof. Mooney

Coming of Age

April 20, 2006

Why does Arturo dislike his father so much?

In the beginning of this story it starts out in a fight between the two parents right off the start. His mother repeatedly asks the father about another woman that he might be seeing and that Arturo and she have the right to know. He says no over and over again not taking it seriously. Mean while Arturo is in the other room listening to the entire thing. This is a hard thing for a little kid to hear growing up, something that kids at the age of nine shouldn't have to hear and when a child is that young they tend to side with the mother because of the nurturing feeling and the sense of security that mothers give children when they are that age, that is the first thing. Next, while his parents are in the middle of this fight his father looks at Arturo and gives him the "fatherly" look. Trying to intimidate him, making sure he still knows who the man of the house is. Then the snapping of the belt is a sign of violence and it frightened Arturo to the point where the thought of his father hitting his mother entered his mind.

Also when Arturo leaves the house to get away from the yelling, his father says to him "That's good, son. Wait outside and let me handle this." The reason for this is that Arturo wanted to show his parents that this was affecting him in a way that he couldn't be in the same house as this conflict, and to have his father just sit there and be ok with it was a shock to him. All these aspects add up to the reason Arturo finally says "I'm going to smash my father's teeth". This is a very bold remark from anyone especially a nine year old boy. There must have been a lot of hatred bottled up inside for a while. Also the impression of his father that he gets from adults. Having him sit there and listen to his mother and his grandparents bash his dad. What kind of image does that give him of his father? If I was this kid and I got the same impression of my dad that he got I wouldn't like him too much either.

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