It becomes obvious in chapter two that Asher's father is much more content with his job than he was in chapter one. He "resumed his journeys for the Rebbe the same month that my mother had entered college. He retained his office, but his main task now lay not with the telephones but with travel. He seemed a different person. He glowed with new life . . . When he did not travel, he worked in his office." I'm happy to see that Asher's father has has been offered work that interests him and pleases him. I think that it might take the focuse off of Asher's drawings and his developing artistic skills.
One of the responsibilities of Asher's father's new job was to travel a lot. Of course, the more frequent trips resulted in him spending less time with Asher and his wife. This leaves Asher's mom to balance her school work with Asher. Despite her many duties, she finds plenty of time to worry about Asher and his father. Her constant worries cause Asher's mother to think that she is an inadequate parent. I think, however, that worrying about a person is a symbol of love. Since the mother worries about her husband and her son, it means that she deeply cares about them. I also don't think that she should feel ashamed for caring about her family.
As for Mrs. Rackover, I think that she is out of place when she criticizes Asher. She tells
him that he's not the son that his parents wanted to have. At Asher's age, it is important for the
people that take care of him and who he looks up to, to try to raise his confidence and self-
assurance, not lower it.
Back to my Journal Page