'Gryphon' By Charles Baxter

Gryphon by Charles Baxter caused people to question how children are subjected to what is right and wrong from a young age in the classroom. The short story opens with the viewpoint of a young student in the fourth- grade. The audience is then introduced to the teacher, Mr. Hibler, who is described as sick therefore it means that they will have a substitute teacher. As the story continues the audience is introduced to the substitute teacher, Miss Ferenczi. As the short story progresses the audience sees the difference between Mr. Hibler and Miss Ferenczi. The audience is given the sense of how bland, boring, and studious Mr. Hibler is versus Miss Ferenczi, who is seen as somewhat crazy but very interesting. As the short story continues the author presents how the students are trying to figure out if what Miss Ferenczi’s stories are true, this gives the sense of how the students must determine the difference between right and wrong. Overall the story presents how the teachers in the story are a representation of what is considered right versus wrong in society. …show more content…
Hibler is a representation of what is right in society because of how and what he teaches. The story makes many references to the structure of his classroom structure and teaching method. The students also state that Miss Ferenczi is incorrect or that Mr. Hibler does it a certain way. Mr. Hibler is ultimately a representation of what is right and teaches what society deems as fit. This can be seen when the students reference what he taught, we also see this when the students are questioning Miss Ferenczi. The students are constantly comparing what Miss Ferenczi says to Mr. Hibler does and already taught them. Overall Mr. Hibler is a symbol of what society deems as right, and that is why he is seen by the school as fit to teach