Altar of the Family and A Blow A Kiss

Through narrative structure, both authors base their stories around the young main characters coming of age and how their fathers are significant in this development. In both stories, emotion is the predominant element used to engage the reader. In “The Altar of the Family”, Michael Wilding influences the reader to sympathize with the main character. We are persuaded to see David as an innocent child brought up by unhappy and insensitive parents, focusing mainly his un-accepting father. This situation puts David in a position that results in a climaxing act of desperation to gai

In “A Blow, A Kiss”, the moment of realisation points out the inescapability of violence, the father as a role model and Albie’s coming of age, his growth from boyhood to manhood. As soon as his character comes into the story, Albie and the reader are influenced to disapprove of Wilf Beacon. When he scolds his half conscious son for being a coward and insults him, Albie builds up inside as he felt the rider’s emotions when he thought Albie was Wilf Beacon and was crying. Albie felt it was unfair the son wept for his father, and as he is in a critical condition, his father shows no emotions or support. Instead he throws him onto the back of his truck dropping and banging his head on the metal tray, making his condition worse. As a majority of readers would agree, Albie’s use of violence by hitting Wilf Beacon over the head was the right thing to do. It is not depicted as a shocking act, but more a normal response to the situation. Wilf Beacon was worsening his own son’s unstable condition, and should Albie have not taken any action, the situation could have maybe become more life-threatening. Here, violence was not so much to prove masculinity, or really to prove anything, but more about Albie using his own discretion and choosing to inflict violence onto a man to protect a victim - the rider, which resulted in Albie’s coming of age from boyhood to manhood. On the other hand, Wilf Beacon’s use of violence was inappropriate. He was hurting an innocent person. Albie’s use of violence was inescapable. He used it not because he thought it was a manly thing to do but because he had to stop a man from hurting someone else. The relationship between Albie and his father is extremely dissimilar to the one of Wilf Beacon and his son. Albie’s father is seen to be a “good” father, a sensitive caring man, to seek help upon the accident of the rider and then to follow up by finding Wilf Beacon. He has a pipe smell and warmth that Albie is so content with. He thinks so highly of his father, even more so than God. In contrast, Wilf Beacon is the man who just holds the status of “father” but does not deserve it. He can only express emotions through violence and verbal abuse, which is unhealthy for a son to be raised by. He is seen as the “typical macho male” stereotype that drinks, avoids family life and cannot show love because affection is a weakness.

The moment of realisation is significant in “The Altar of the Family” as it looks at gender expectations, violence and the father as a role model. David’s father is clearly unsatisfied, possibly ashamed that his son is playing with his sister’s dolls and collecting plumes to dress as an Indian, yet there is no evidence of him attempting to interact with David to reposition his status as the “man” he wants him to be. David is a sensitive, feminine child, and the only reason why he is playing with dolls is because his overprotective mother will not allow him to interact with the boys outside the house. What else is he going to do but play with his sister’s dolls? David’s father is conveyed as being homophobic and sexist. He constantly abuses him verbally. What does he plan to gain by calling his son a “liver lilied poofter”? His father expects his son to engage in “manly” activities. To live up to society’s expectations, proving his son is “normal. It would not be surprising if his father disowned him for being a homosexual later on in life. He is headstrong and ver

Some topics in this essay:
Wilf Beacon, Altar Family”, Blow Kiss”, Tim Winton, David David, Family” Albie’s, Michael Wilding, Albie David, Wilf Beacon’s, Family” David’s, wilf beacon, “the altar family”, altar family”, “the altar, blow kiss”, albie father, coming age, “a blow, “a blow kiss”, moment realisation, narrative structure, relationship father, wilf beacon head, motorbike rider wilf, david’s mother restricts,