opinion, interpretation and summary of the story sunday in the park

I like this story because it is a short story that sends the reader so many messages and emotions it seems to be much more than what it is. The descriptive setting the narrator, who is the protagonist and the reality of all the characters, provide for an excellent plot that causes the reader put on the protagonist’s shoes and feel as if they are the main character in the story.

In the beginning of the story, the author gives the reader images of the two families that demonstrate the level of goodness in each family. In the first paragraph, Morton the father of the good family, is described as reading the Times Magazine section, one arm flung around her the mother’s shoulder. Also the mother’s attitude toward the day is seen when she thinks to herself, how good this is. Morton and mother happily watch their son play in the sandbox in the park. All these images suggest a happy family that has a good life. Even the thought by the mother expresses the goodness that she feels toward her family and life.

       On the other hand, the author explains the Bad family, Joe and his father with the use of images that demonstrate the bully in each of them. Kaufman introduces Joe by writing, the other boy suddenly stop up and with a quick, deliberate swing if his chubby arm threw a spiteful of sand at Larry. The speaker describes the father of the child by saying he did not look up from his comics, but spat once deftly out of the corner of his mouth. These images of Joe throwing sand, and the father not caring make the reader think that this Is a disrespectful and heartless family. Althougath, Joe’s family seems to be the Bad family in the story, the evidence can suggest the opposite, Joe and his father are enjoying a beautiful day at the park. For Joe’s father’s perspective, his kid can throw sand in a public sandbox unless he says not to. The reader knows that the throwing of the sand is deliberate, but Joe could have thrown the sand just for the simple purpose of getting Larry’s attention so he could have someone to play with him. There are clues to suggest that Larry’s mother, in a way, envies Joe and his father because they can stick up for themselves. She is ashamed of her husband and son because they don’t fight their own battles. The suggestion that Morton is abusive toward the boy also helps the reader to see that Larry’s family is just as bad, if not worse, than Joe’s family.