Fenstad's Mother
In Fenstad's Mother, by Charles Baxter, character is a very essential element to the story. The main character, Harry Fenstad, is a complicated person, but it is his mother, Mrs. Clara Fenstad, who I feel is a more important and complex person. In this brief paper, I will explain why it is my opinion that both of these characters play a crucial role in the story by complementing and developing each other's character. Fenstad career is a brochure writer, but he also teaches an extension English-composition class at the downtown campus of the state university. He attends church regularly, and his passion is ice skating. I know that these may seem like simple ways to describe a character I have referred to as complicated, but there is so much more that lies beneath these plain descriptions. Fenstad says that he likes to teach because "he liked teaching strangers and because he enjoyed the sense of hope that classrooms held for him" (page 117). Harry seems to be a very distant person in that he likes to be around people who do not really know him. He would much rather be an observer than a very active participant. When he goes ice skating in the beginning of the story, there are a lot of people who are ska
The character traits that are different are still similar. He sees his mother's generosity and realizes that that is something he innately lacks. Fenstad thinks that his mother spends too much time thinking about other people and not thinking about herself as much as she should. I think this is significant because the reader is able to see more of themselves in the characters. In my imagination (because there is only one scene when Mrs. Fenstad's mother, Clara, is a character quite opposite from her son. She has a kindness and generosity that instantly attracts other people. Fenstad seems to feel disgusted by this woman rather than sorry for her. Fenstad believes in sacrificing the self for the good of humanity, Fenstad is more personally goal-oriented. Fenstad and York Follette, a student in Fenstad's class, instantly become friends. When she begins to visit Fenstad's logic class, the students seem to be more interested inwhat she has to say than in what Fenstad is trying to teach. It is obvious that he is very uncomfortable and disturbed by the situation.
Common topics in this essay:
Clara Fenstad,
Country Bob's,
Clara Baxter,
Susan Fenstad,
African American,
Fenstad Follette,
Harry Fenstad,
York Follette,
Charles Baxter,
mother clara,
fenstad's mother,
fenstad feel,
page 117,
life fenstad,
harry fenstad,
fenstad mother,
fenstad worried,
refers characters,
ice skating,
|
Acceptance Essays
