Beat Not The Poor Desk Analysis

Although authority may seem tough, we learn from three sources that power has the decision to be whatever it wants, including compassionate. We will explore this position through three pieces of text including, “Beat Not the Poor Desk” by Marie Ponsot and Rosemary Deen, “The Prodigal Son” by Aesop and “Stockings” by Tim O’brien. Making connections to each piece, the goal is to reference one another on a common theme. In the short story text, “Beat Not the Poor Desk” by Marie Ponsot and Rosemary Deen, we learn how in every parable one character holds authority. According to these women, “That character has authority because of where he stands.” The explanation here is that, without conflict there would be no parable, and in order to resolve the situation there needs to be a character or situation that provides authority. This character not only fixes the dilemma but demonstrates to the audience the point of view in which the story will take place. Connecting to Ponsot and Deen, in the ancient story “The Prodigal Son” by Aesop, we read “ 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’" The character with authority here, the father, comes from a family of wealth, and …show more content…
Typically when one thinks of an authoritative figure they think of a police officer or military personnel. Not because they are there to help, because they are typically big and often scary looking. In “The Prodigal Son” and “Stockings,” we are given a different type of authority to think about. The father and Henry Dobbins use their authority by exemplifying sensitivity and compassion, when one would think they would do the opposite. This creates the question, does authority have to be