FREE ESSAY ON I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER

I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER

The father son relationship is very important. A growing boy needs a strong fatherly
presence in order to become a "man". The plays, "I Never Sang for my Father," and "The
Owl Killer," and the short story "Notes to a Native Son," show this. The lack of
communication and basic affection from their fathers directly affected the sons' mental
health, including self-esteem.
The father in "I Never Sang For My Father," Tom, was very mentally and physically
abusive. Many times during the story he acted very self-centered. He was once a
politician and loved it very much. The relationship with his son, Gene, was not a good
one. Due to Tom's abuse early in life, he and Gene were never able to have a positive
relationship. Gene also was never able to really stand up to his father. Probably due to
a fear of him he had developed early in life.
Even with this fear, Gene proved to be not be too damaged by his abusive childhood. I
believe that his low self-etheme came from this upbringing. Still he had a kind of
respect for his father because he had provided for his family. Though in this case the
father son relationship was not good. The son's loving relationship with his mother
helped take the place of the bad relationship with his father.
Noah, the father in "The Owl Killer," was much worst a father. His relationship with his
son, Lamar, was so terrible that it led to strong psychological problems. He abused his
son to the point that he developed a stutter when his father was present. Noah also
mentally abused his son. He would keep treats from his children when he knew wanted them.
He would call them names and show them no affection. These all led to Lamar's breakdown.
Lamar was very troubled from his terrible childhood. He started strange hobbies and
isolated himself in his room, stuffing owls. He eventually killed and mutilated a man. I
think that his last act of violence was to try to obtain some power he couldn't get from
his father. He was also trying to hurt someone like his father hurt him. The relationship
between Noah and Lamar was one based on hatred. This hatred led to Lamar finally shoving
his father's head into a furnace.
The short story "Note of a Native Son," was about the author's relationship with his
father and the hatred that James Baldwin's father and himself both possessed. James
Baldwin never really knew his father intimately. He lived with him throughout his
childhood, but they hadn't really spoken. His relationship with his father was almost
non-existent. They didn't communicate. I think this left a void in his heart. He had not
spoken to or even really appreciated someone whom was probably a great person. 
The relationship between a father and a son is very important. It can lead to a lot of
different things, positive or negative. Still it depends on the person the son is. A bad
relationship can cause a child to be a killer, a person with low self-esteem, or a
world-renowned writer.