I would have overlooked the importance of the parental role if I hadn’t read the article before reading the story. I think it would have been important for the parents to have a say in it, even though the grandma gets all the spotlight. They didn’t appear to be discussed much, and they gave off the impression of being rather absent parents. Even when they were dealing with the outcast, the father remained silent and did not say or do anything. With her kids, the mother also gave off the impression of being absent and uninvolved. The grandmother’s pride and selfishness was not discussed in the story. Her priorities, such as finding the home from her past, took priority over her family’s well being. It seems as though the parents, although having children, have no obligations. It appears as though they are not parenting their children. Additionally, it seems as though Bailey, the husband, has no obligations as a man. It’s as if he failed his wife and kids by not intervening to save them when the Misfit kidnaps the family. They also don’t enforce rules for their kids. They don’t punish or interfere with them, allowing them to act and do as they choose.
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3 thoughts on “Falaq A Discussion 9”
It’s understandable how you perceived the parental roles in the story, feeling they were overshadowed by the grandmother’s character and her selfish desires. The lack of assertiveness from both parents, especially during the critical moments with the Misfit, does highlight their absence in crucial parenting roles. The absence of discipline and guidance for the children further reinforces this perception. Bailey’s inaction during the crisis underscores a failure of traditional masculine responsibility. Their portrayal indeed raises questions about their parental obligations and involvement.
I can completely understand why you feel like this and why this impression is given with both the grandmother and the parents. They show little to no interest in the children and what is going on with them. The selfishness of all the adults in this story is shocking to me. it seems like unfortunately this was really set on stone at the end of the story when the grandmother got killed by the misfit. In a sense it feels as if the kids were doomed from the beginning due to the lack of discipline distributed from the parents and also from the lack of discipline that the grandmother has for herself and for her grand children.
Falaq, your observations here are good, but does the article discuss the parenting styles of Bailey and his wife?