Topic > Father-Son Relationships on Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden

As people age and become more mature, their opinions change through life experience. People reflect on their lives, especially childhood memories, to shape who they are today or learn from them to become a better version of themselves. The boy, now a man, reflects on his apathetic attitude towards his father and now sees him as his unconditional form of love and appreciation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Parents go through obstacles to make sure their child remains satisfied. “Sunday” implies a broader meaning than just the day the father gets up to start his work. Sunday represents a religious day for Christians to stand and worship God and their savior, Jesus Christ. Instead of using that Sunday to rest and worship God, the father worked tirelessly for his family. The use of “Sunday” refers to how it was the obligation and duty of Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save his “children.” Like him, the father also has his obligations, i.e. "cross to hold". He has to work and suffer in the harshest weather conditions to provide for the indifferent children who do not realize that this was his form of love and sacrifice of his rest, until it was too late. Additionally, the first line where the son introduces his father gives a clue as to how he sees his father. The use of “father” instead of “daddy,” “dad” or “daddy,” which is the more formal way, demonstrates the lack of affection in their relationship. He may also see his father as more of an authority figure instead of the caring father he tries to be. The little boy did not appreciate everything his father would do for him, even when he got up on Sundays to do a huge drudgery or to shine his shoes. Finally, the use of “office is not literal. The word “office” implies the dedication of work or service to something. The image of the “offices” portrays the father's life revolving around his son. It also has religious associations that are linked to the scarves that the father makes for his son. The father does everything he can to make sure his son's needs are met. The child is blind to all the services the father has rendered and focuses on himself. As people get older and wiser, they look back and may regret some actions or attitudes they gave to their parents. Now understanding that it was always love and care, the boy, now a man, apologizes for his past treatment of his father. His father was almost like a servant to him, making sure their home stayed warm and even going so far as to shine his son's shoes for him. The repetition of the use “what did I know, what did I know” emphasizes the confessions of sadness that the son must now feel. The son was unaware of everything his father did for him. The son never had to do half of what his father did to understand his point of view. It was almost impossible for him to understand the parental love his father had towards him when he confesses that it was "an austere love...", until he grew up and perhaps became a father himself. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The unfortunate fact is that sometimes children do not see parental love as love, but more as “badness”. They are unable to let it sink in and become increasingly selfish, when in reality all the parents want is to make sure the child remains protected and makes the decisions..