Sunday In The Park By Bel Kaufman Summary

Improved Essays
Behavior

Sunday in the park, by Bel kaufman, begins with a family enjoying a beautiful day at the park. Larry the little boy was minding his own business playing in the sandbox hardly even realizing that there was another boy in the sandbox. He shortly starts to notice him as the boy now starts to bully him by throwing sand in his face. Larry at this point seems as if he is going to cry and looks to get his mother’s attention. His mother tells the other child that what he is doing is not okay and it needs to stop. All that does is start more conflict with the other child’s father. The bully’s father tells him to continue throwing sand. This then starts conflict between the two fathers. The bully’s father seemed as if he was a lot bigger
…show more content…
The way Morton reacted and took care of the situation made him seem as if he was a coward. Morton says, “Come on let’s get out of here. He walked awkwardly, almost limping with self-consciousness, to the sandbox.” Not only did he let himself down, but he also let his wife down. You know something is wrong with her because she says, “Yet beneath it there was a layer of something else, something heavy and inescapable. She sensed that it was more than just and unpleasant incident, more than defeat of a reason by force.” I believe that she thinks that he is not doing his proper duty as a father to their family. He should be making them feel safe and doing whatever it takes to do that. She just wanted to feel protected by Morton and a good role model to their …show more content…
She just wanted to see action from Morton showing he can do what’s right by sticking up for his family. That may be why Larry is the way he is and why he couldn’t stick up for himself in the sandbox. Instead of sticking up for himself the first things he does is look up at his mother as if he wanted to start crying. I know that Larry is very young, but if you think about it he shares his father’s behaviors because Larry doesn’t know any better. He learns based off of what he sees from him father. That’s why Morton’s wife was so let down and upset about the whole situation. Morton needs to teach his child how to stick up for himself and how to have confidence in what he thinks is right. It’s just difficult putting the whole blame on Morton though. Morton should have assured his family that he would do everything in his power to make them feel protected. The only thing is that no matter what he chooses to do with the situation he loses either way. If he chooses to stick up for him and his family he will just end up getting beat up and letting his family down either way. No matter what he is considered the one doing all the wrong. The only thing he can really do find a new approach of figuring out a way of pleasing his wife and kid by making them feel safe and proud of

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Gary Soto’s vivid imagery and religious allusions recreate an event where sin and guilt leads him to reflect upon his actions as a six-year-old child. In the beginning of A Summer Life, Gary Soto reveals that he has a religious background by quoting that “he knew enough about hell” and that he “was holy in almost every bone”. In addition to his religiously influenced statements, he also states “angels flopping”. The recurrence of allusions from the bible in the introductory passage emphasizes that Soto knew about God and therefore, the consequences of sin even at a young age.…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Linda Sue Park wrote the novel A Long Walk To Water; about a young boy named Salva who made a 10,000+ mile trek completely isolated from his friends and family. At 11 years old, he ran into the bush with other boys after fighting broke out near his local school. After more than 7 months of walking in a deadly and mortiferous terrain, Salva Dut Ariik makes his way to a refugee camp, first in Ethiopia, then in Kenya. Despite the fear of his future, Salva had to demonstrate courage, being resourceful, and persistent.…

    • 94 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    And he’s gone” (1.9). Obviously, her thoughts about Father Flynn was right; furthermore, she had to take some risks in order to…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    All Summer In a Day “She was different and they knew her difference and kept away”... this is what Ray Bradbury writes in his story, All summer in a day. Margot is a girl in this story who wants to be accepted and fit in with the people on venus but she isn't sure how. For example she doesn't defend herself and she doesn't even attempt to try and socialize with the other kids. One reason Margot doesn't fit in and isn't accepted is because *she doesn't defend herself.…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It is impossible to write anything new. Everything has already been done, already been said, but writers take inspiration where they can get it, read what other people have written, and this encourages them to write something of their own. They add to the ongoing conversation. Sometimes, experimentation with writing happens as writers feel the need to, maybe not say something completely new, but to say it in an innovative way. This is how new genres, such as American fabulism, are born, coming out of comparable stories like “The Man in the Woods” by Shirley Jackson and “The Summer People” by Kelly Link.…

    • 1228 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    McEachern: A Born Father Figure? As a child, being born into this world without out a father is difficult enough, but losing both of your birth parents and being placed in an orphanage is traumatic for most kids. Without having parental units, it is more likely for a child to have poor social skills and can be unable to express affection. Generically, boys may be more inclined to behave violently with others without any parental attachment.…

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It was not hard to notice that she felt uncomfortable because she screamed to the top of her lungs, which definitely meant she was not up for the help Officer Ryan had offered. As well as…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Cabin Inside Six Flags "Kalie. Kalie. Kalie. " I said, hitting the pillow on my best friends head. She rolled over and looked at me with a hateful expression.…

    • 1130 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Because everybody probably feels the need to set aside all the stress, Six Flags is the best solution to feel free for once. Six Flags is my perfect getaway place and it is filled with a lot of fun and excitement. The roller coasters is what I liked the most about Six Flags. Also it is somewhere that gives me good memories with my family. Lastly, what made Six Flags even more thrilling was when I found a one-hundred dollar bill lying in the ground.…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    April Morning by Howard Fast, tells the fateful story of fifteen year old, Adam Cooper, on April 19, 1775- the beginning of the Revolutionary War. As Adam tells us about his life and surroundings, we experience twenty-four hours in his shoes. During this twenty-four hour period Adam not only witnesses the “Shot Heard Round the World”, which kills his father, but he also participates in the Battle of Lexington, all while grieving the loss of his friends and father. While all of this happens Adam gradually changes from child to a man and gives up his innocence. Throughout the book, it becomes more and more evident that the theme is change.…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Summary Of Ride Along

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary of Ride Along I had the opportunity to participate in a Ride-Along for four hours with Officer H. Brown. Officer Brown was assigned to patrol the University sector in Irvine. During the ride, Officer Brown gave me an orientation to the police equipments, policies, and procedures. Some of her responsibilities include watching for cars violating traffic laws and responding to police calls nearby. The police vehicle is equipped with a first aid kit and traffic cones.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer 1. Title: A Child Called It. Published: 1995. Summary:…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Escape Carolyn Jessop

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Escape” is another great book that was hard to put down. Although hard to read, this is a first- person account of life inside the world of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the derivative of the Mormon Church. This community is prominent along the Utah - Arizona border. This book gives a thrilling account of one woman’s courageous flight to freedom along with her eight children. It's hard to read because Carolyn Jessop’s story is one of non-stop abuse, from the real life nightmare that was drilled into her head as a young child and forced her into a community where violence in regularly committed against women and children in the name of God.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “A Child called it” first published in 1995, is a heart touching story about severe child abuse which happened in California. This book discusses the life of David Pelzer and his story about his abusive life. This novel gives insight into the horror of child abuse and the amazing need for survival. An idea that was portrayed throughout the novel was child entrapment.…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Puzzle. The story “who’s Irish?” by Gish Jen is a story of an elderly Chinese woman, living with her daughter in the United States of America. She takes care of her granddaughter Sophie while her daughter goes to work; as a way of being supportive to her daughter. She does not like how Sophie is wild; she insists that no Chinese girl acts as she does.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays