He Was a Boxer When I Was Small by Lenore Keeshig-Tobias - Essay Example

Keeshig-Tobias begins and ends her essay with references to boxing as this is how she viewed him her entire life, sometimes a young and surefooted boxer and at other times a beaten man, with graying sideburns trying hard to provide a different life than his for his children. 2. The symbol of boxing clarifies the implied thesis as it expresses how Keeshig-Tobias saw and felt about her father throughout her life. This symbol provides a lens through which the reader can also view the image of the father, relating the activity and actions taking place inside a boxing ring to those taking place outside. 3. The thesis revolves around the ambivalent role of Keehsig-Tobias’s father and how his young life as a boxer controlled his behavior and actions outside the ring.

He was a fighter, battling with the world for his family, trying hard to give them the education and moral upbringing that he never had. Yet his drunken and fighting nature left his wife and kids trembling in fear of their lives. Both good and bad memories of her father rolled into one, left Keeshig-Tobias confused and defiant, fighting and arguing with her father. Her decision to imply her thesis adds a perspective for the readers and strengthens the essay. For, just like her complex father who can’t be summed up in one word or sentence, the thesis can’t be directly stated.

Its implication allows the readers to decide for themselves the image and role of the father. As Keeshig-Tobias’s perception of her father is mixed with love, hatred, sadness, and loyalty, so too are the feelings of the readers as they read the essay. 4. The relationship that Keeshig-Tobias writes about is not unusual at all as it defines a child’s intricate memories and experiences with a parent and the influence they had on them while growing up. She shares her mixed feelings about her father; how she cried and never played the same again when seeing his graying sideburns because to her young mind he was always the strong and young boxer.

At other times, she defied him when he wanted her to go to school and attend church regularly because she felt that he was forcing her to become somebody that she didn’t want to be. We can all relate to certain elements in this essay as we have all experienced something similar to a certain degree. Growing up, we try to find out who we are and what our place is in society. Oftentimes, we rebel against our parents and try to make our own image, being free from their influence and sometimes doing exactly the opposite of what they want in order to establish our free will and independence.

Just like Keehsig-Tobias who left home and argued with her father head-on, leaving school, sports, and church all at the same time.