In the novel The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks the two main characters
             Marcus and Newt have very different lifestyles. Newt is shown as a child in a very large loving family who receives love and participates in family events. On the other hand Marcus has no family to interact with due to his mothers death and his father's alcoholism.
             In the story Newt is surrounded by a good family and a nice warm house to live in. His family supports him in every way they can even though they do not always agree. Newt is very interested in playing the piano but his father says, "Piano playin's for girls." (p. 68) So he went to his mother for a different opinion and he received the support to go on and continue living out his dreams. Marcus lives in a shack with his father who basically has no concern if his son is alive or dead and because of that Marcus has no respect for his father. Even when his father tries to teach him a lesson Marcus says "You winehead! You are too damn drunk to stand up, less along fight." (p. 45) As a response to his fathers attempt to become more of a father figure to him.
             Most people believe that love is a very important part in a life of a family. Newt had it easy. His family showed numerous amounts of affection to him. For Newt's birthday he received a baby calf and by not realizing it he says "This my birthday? I forgot. Thanks, Pappa!" (p. 71) He was overjoyed at the present he received. Marcus, on the other hand, receives no love from his father and because of that he gets into a lot of trouble. Some people even try to get him out of his punishment by saying, "He ain't got no parents." (p. 51) But that excuse rarely worked.
             Christmas day is supposed to be a child's most favorable day of the year. Marcus did not end up being one of the lucky children due to spending Christmas in the reformatory. His father refused to visit him, and when the Rev. Broadnap and the people from the town showed up to visit him Mar...