Do dreams define who you are? In the short story “Star Food,” written by Ethan Canin, Dade didn’t know what to dream about, didn’t identify himself and felt like he disappointed his parents for the first time. What disappointed one usually pleased the other, so while his mother believed that he was on the verge of discovering something, his father would dream of him knowing what he wanted to do with his life, and wanted for Dade to run the store, do stock work, and keep the family business. Dade started as a boy who wanted to please both his parent’s wishes, but ended being someone who felt alone in the world. Without knowing about the consequences, Dade let the woman go because he related to his mother’s values, that made him feel remorse
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His mother believed that Dade was destined to be a man of limited fame. Limited because “she thought that true vision was distilled and could not be appreciated by everybody” (Canin 2). Dade had no definite goals of his own, so when is mother tells him her theory, he felt that he could try to make a discovery and make his mother proud. After a while, he realized that he could not please his mother, so when she asked him about his discoveries, he lied to her and said that he was “about to make a new discovery” (Canin 11). Even though Dade related to and trusted his mother more, he felt like he needed to use the competence and industry his father “had been trying to teach [Dade]” (Canin 7). So as he sits on the rooftop, Dade felt like his life was making sense again, like he could be the son his father wanted. So he decides to make a change. He plans to catch the woman. He needed for “the woman to be caught” (Canin 14). It was a way for him to prove himself and his parents that he could do something. He started working and helping his dad with the family business, but even after this, the day he saw the woman again, it was like the beginning, he didn’t know what to say, and ended up doing what his mother taught him. He forgave her, and let her go. Even after he let her go, he still felt alone in the world because he felt like he disappointed both of his parents, never finishing what they expected of him. …show more content…
When he caught the woman she just stared at him and he was speechless. After having her in his arms, he realized that the only reason why he wanted to catch her was because he did not know what to do. He turned into a person that thought that if he could do something, he could be the person he is supposed to be. When he thought of what to say to her and looked at her trembling body, he decided to let her go. Even as they walked the streets, he “realized [Dade] did not know what to say” (Canin 16). He never knew what he wanted, but letting the woman go felt like the right thing to do in his mother’s perspective. When he stopped and watched her cross the street, he just stood there for hours, until the world had fully rotated into the night. He “felt alone in the world” (Canin 16), and still didn't know what to do. Dade wanted to be a dreamer, but he wouldn’t let himself be one because he everything he does usually disappoints his mother or his father. He felt like he could never please his mom without disappointing his dad. Dade will never find himself unless he does what makes him happy, and letting the woman go meant a new start for his
His mother believed that Dade was destined to be a man of limited fame. Limited because “she thought that true vision was distilled and could not be appreciated by everybody” (Canin 2). Dade had no definite goals of his own, so when is mother tells him her theory, he felt that he could try to make a discovery and make his mother proud. After a while, he realized that he could not please his mother, so when she asked him about his discoveries, he lied to her and said that he was “about to make a new discovery” (Canin 11). Even though Dade related to and trusted his mother more, he felt like he needed to use the competence and industry his father “had been trying to teach [Dade]” (Canin 7). So as he sits on the rooftop, Dade felt like his life was making sense again, like he could be the son his father wanted. So he decides to make a change. He plans to catch the woman. He needed for “the woman to be caught” (Canin 14). It was a way for him to prove himself and his parents that he could do something. He started working and helping his dad with the family business, but even after this, the day he saw the woman again, it was like the beginning, he didn’t know what to say, and ended up doing what his mother taught him. He forgave her, and let her go. Even after he let her go, he still felt alone in the world because he felt like he disappointed both of his parents, never finishing what they expected of him. …show more content…
When he caught the woman she just stared at him and he was speechless. After having her in his arms, he realized that the only reason why he wanted to catch her was because he did not know what to do. He turned into a person that thought that if he could do something, he could be the person he is supposed to be. When he thought of what to say to her and looked at her trembling body, he decided to let her go. Even as they walked the streets, he “realized [Dade] did not know what to say” (Canin 16). He never knew what he wanted, but letting the woman go felt like the right thing to do in his mother’s perspective. When he stopped and watched her cross the street, he just stood there for hours, until the world had fully rotated into the night. He “felt alone in the world” (Canin 16), and still didn't know what to do. Dade wanted to be a dreamer, but he wouldn’t let himself be one because he everything he does usually disappoints his mother or his father. He felt like he could never please his mom without disappointing his dad. Dade will never find himself unless he does what makes him happy, and letting the woman go meant a new start for his