Essay Response to
Susan Beth Pfeffer’s “Ashes”
By Cook Shaw 802
In Susan Beth Pfeffer’s short story “Ashes”, the protagonist shows the reader that relationships are complicated and usually have many facets. She shows us this through the troubles of divorce. Ashleigh or Ashes, as her father calls her, has a complicated relationship with her father. This short story revolves around a visit to the fathers apartment in which he asks her to “borrow” two hundred dollars from the moms reserve cash. Usually, the father is a loving and caring provider for his daughter. This side of their relationship is very fun and constructive. On rarer occasions, the father reveals his selfish, destructive attributes. Ashes’ reactions with both sides of the father shows how people and relationships in general are multifaceted.
Most times he sees ashes, the father shows the side of the relationship that is loving and caring. “That winter, it felt like every time I saw my father, the sun cast off just a little more warmth than it had before” We can see from this quote that she clearly loves her father and they care for each other, proving that this side is a very supportive and confident relationship. This side of the father and greets ashes every day with a new idea for her future. "Last week he’d told me to be an astronaut. The week before that, the CEO of a Fortune 500 corporation. And the week before that he’d been stunned by my spirituality.” Even though later in the story, she states that she knows that these are not true, she likes the compliments in the moment. This is the helpful side to the father. When he gushes to Ashes about her beauty or how smart she is, it helps her feel confident, helping her confidence is definitely part of his kind and motivational side.
Opposing to the attitude in the beginning of the story, the father also has another side to him. After the supportive dreamer, there is “an irresponsible bum”. His second side, the needy, irresponsible side isn’t much of a hero. This side isn't a good parent or leader for ashes. The most obvious time that proves this is their encounter at the diner. "Dad took a booth that faced the door, and sat in the seat where he could check who was coming in. He hadn’t done that with me in a long time, and my stomach was hurting in an old familiar way.” This shows that the dad has had interactions with these people before and it didn’t end satisfactory for everyone. Even though the father loves ashes dearly, the more intricate side of him may sometimes have disregard to the favors that he is asking and the emotional position he is putting his daughter in. I think this counts for all of the people we know. There is always another side or two that just doesn’t appear as much.
In conclusion, Ashes has a turmoil relationship with her father. Her father asked her to steal her mother's money. Her father's actions and her reactions show that people and relationships are complicated and have more than meets the eye.
Susan Beth Pfeffer’s “Ashes”
By Cook Shaw 802
In Susan Beth Pfeffer’s short story “Ashes”, the protagonist shows the reader that relationships are complicated and usually have many facets. She shows us this through the troubles of divorce. Ashleigh or Ashes, as her father calls her, has a complicated relationship with her father. This short story revolves around a visit to the fathers apartment in which he asks her to “borrow” two hundred dollars from the moms reserve cash. Usually, the father is a loving and caring provider for his daughter. This side of their relationship is very fun and constructive. On rarer occasions, the father reveals his selfish, destructive attributes. Ashes’ reactions with both sides of the father shows how people and relationships in general are multifaceted.
Most times he sees ashes, the father shows the side of the relationship that is loving and caring. “That winter, it felt like every time I saw my father, the sun cast off just a little more warmth than it had before” We can see from this quote that she clearly loves her father and they care for each other, proving that this side is a very supportive and confident relationship. This side of the father and greets ashes every day with a new idea for her future. "Last week he’d told me to be an astronaut. The week before that, the CEO of a Fortune 500 corporation. And the week before that he’d been stunned by my spirituality.” Even though later in the story, she states that she knows that these are not true, she likes the compliments in the moment. This is the helpful side to the father. When he gushes to Ashes about her beauty or how smart she is, it helps her feel confident, helping her confidence is definitely part of his kind and motivational side.
Opposing to the attitude in the beginning of the story, the father also has another side to him. After the supportive dreamer, there is “an irresponsible bum”. His second side, the needy, irresponsible side isn’t much of a hero. This side isn't a good parent or leader for ashes. The most obvious time that proves this is their encounter at the diner. "Dad took a booth that faced the door, and sat in the seat where he could check who was coming in. He hadn’t done that with me in a long time, and my stomach was hurting in an old familiar way.” This shows that the dad has had interactions with these people before and it didn’t end satisfactory for everyone. Even though the father loves ashes dearly, the more intricate side of him may sometimes have disregard to the favors that he is asking and the emotional position he is putting his daughter in. I think this counts for all of the people we know. There is always another side or two that just doesn’t appear as much.
In conclusion, Ashes has a turmoil relationship with her father. Her father asked her to steal her mother's money. Her father's actions and her reactions show that people and relationships are complicated and have more than meets the eye.
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