“It's time I thought of myself” is just one on the many selfish comments Windrider makes in the novel Dragonwings by Laurence Yep. His self-centered decisions caused Moonshadow’s dream to be prolonged, but Moonshadow never resents him for it and instead admires him. The entire book is based on Moonshadow’s admiring perspective, so readers don’t see the self-centered side to Moonshadow’s father. Windrider gives into his selfish desires, ultimately disregarding the feelings of others and reversing the roles of father and son.
Moonshadow encourages his father to follow his dreams, but Windrider puts the dreams of others as second priority. Moonshadow commits to Windrider’s dreams, prolonging his own dreams in the process. When Windrider expresses …show more content…
Moonshadow tells readers about the exhausting work he needs to do by saying “I managed to get a job as a grocer… by the time I got home, cooked dinner, and did my lessons and chores, I would be so tired that I would go straight to bed… Eventually I wound up running our household”(Yep,1975). Moonshadow has to do many of the tiring jobs that his father is obligated to do. Windrider reverses the roles of father and son by pursuing his dreams and indirectly making Moonshadow run the household. Also, Windrider’s dreams take many of Moonshadow’s childhood experiences that he could have had such as proper education and the feeling of freedom. While Windrider is focused on his dream, Moonshadow is anxious about their future lives and income, something his father is supposed to think about. He tells readers that “It did not seem like much of a plan to me...he wanted so badly to fly that it never occurred to him that people may not pay to see him fly. Sometimes people want a thing so much that they lose their common sense...I shut out those worries”(Yep,1975). Moonshadow almost acts as a “guider” for Windrider, worrying about their budget and how they are going to make ends meet. Also, Windrider puts his son’s physical well being at stake because if Windrider failed to make money through his flight shows, Moonshadow may starve or become homeless. Windrider’s self-centered actions made Moonshadow take on a father’s duties, watching over Windrider’s physical health. Even though Moonshadow already watches over Windrider’s physical health, he also takes on the duty of watching over his mental
Moonshadow encourages his father to follow his dreams, but Windrider puts the dreams of others as second priority. Moonshadow commits to Windrider’s dreams, prolonging his own dreams in the process. When Windrider expresses …show more content…
Moonshadow tells readers about the exhausting work he needs to do by saying “I managed to get a job as a grocer… by the time I got home, cooked dinner, and did my lessons and chores, I would be so tired that I would go straight to bed… Eventually I wound up running our household”(Yep,1975). Moonshadow has to do many of the tiring jobs that his father is obligated to do. Windrider reverses the roles of father and son by pursuing his dreams and indirectly making Moonshadow run the household. Also, Windrider’s dreams take many of Moonshadow’s childhood experiences that he could have had such as proper education and the feeling of freedom. While Windrider is focused on his dream, Moonshadow is anxious about their future lives and income, something his father is supposed to think about. He tells readers that “It did not seem like much of a plan to me...he wanted so badly to fly that it never occurred to him that people may not pay to see him fly. Sometimes people want a thing so much that they lose their common sense...I shut out those worries”(Yep,1975). Moonshadow almost acts as a “guider” for Windrider, worrying about their budget and how they are going to make ends meet. Also, Windrider puts his son’s physical well being at stake because if Windrider failed to make money through his flight shows, Moonshadow may starve or become homeless. Windrider’s self-centered actions made Moonshadow take on a father’s duties, watching over Windrider’s physical health. Even though Moonshadow already watches over Windrider’s physical health, he also takes on the duty of watching over his mental