Many teenagers in the world face challenges
with morality. In Susan Beth Pfeffer’s short story “Ashes,” the reader is
introduced to a family facing complications of divorce and morality. “Ashes” is a short story about a young adult
who is faced with challenges and discovering what her morals are and how far
she will go for the people she loves. Ashes’
experiences with her
family help the reader consider how and
why they make decisions that shape their lives.
Ashes’
father’s manipulation makes Ashes consider making choices that she wouldn’t
have made. Her father makes her feel special and like he really cares for her.
In the text he says, “You could be a model…you’re too smart for that kind of
work anyway. Be a photographer instead, or a dress designer. You have that
flair, Ashes. Style, you do something like that, you’re sure to make your mark
on the world.” Her father wants to make Ashes feel special so that she feels
loved and will do more of what he asks her to. Her father was trying to
manipulate her into making decisions that she wouldn’t have made on her own.
Ashes father knows that she is vulnerable and takes advantage of her. “‘You’re the special one, Ashes. You’re the
one in-a-million girl’… But no matter how often he told me, I still loved
hearing him say it.” Ashes’ dad’s technique of making Ashes feel special is
beginning to work. Ashes is skeptical of her father but still has the naïve part
of her that wants to think that her father isn’t flawed. “Last week he’d told
me to be an astronaut. The week before that, a CEO of a Fortune 500
corporation. And the week before that, he had been stunned by my spirituality.”
Ashes has trouble believing that her father really thinks what he is saying is
true. If Ashes didn’t crave her father’s approval as much, perhaps she wouldn’t
have thought to steal her mother's money. Ashes’ father’s manipulation affects
the decisions that Ashes makes in the story. People in our own lives affect the
decisions we make, just like Ashes father did to her.
Ashes’
lack of trust also affects her decisions in the story. In the story Ashes
begins to accept her father’s broken promises and has trouble trusting him
because he has let her down so many times before. Ashes has a lack of trust for
her father, so she doesn’t believe that her dad will pay back the money that he
wants her to take from her mother. “When I was little, Dad used to promise me
the stars for a necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never quite
happened.” Ashes’ father promises her things that he cannot give her. Even
though Ashes knows that these things are impossible, she is hurt by his broken
promises. Another promise was that Ashes’ father said they would try the rice pudding
for dessert, which never happened either. Although rice pudding isn’t a big
promise it shows that her father doesn’t keep his word. If her dad was more
trustworthy, perhaps Ashes would have been more willing to take the money from
her mother. Another example of her father’s untrustworthiness is, “But you know
how those guys are. They get itchy when you owe them money. And it's not always
comfortable to be where they can scratch you.” Her father is irresponsible and
Ashes knows this. She is uncomfortable stealing the money because she knows her
father’s track record and it's not good. Ashes’ father is flawed and it is hard
for her to accept that, but I think that in this story Ashes starts to grow up
and realize that her dad isn’t perfect.
Ashes
knows as well that her mom is stable and is someone who has always been there
for her while her father is unstable and unreliable. Her mom works hard for
everything she has and Ashes would feel very guilty for stealing from her. “Mom was the most practical person I know,
always putting aside for a rainy day.” Ashes’ mother has always been there for
her so she would feel very guilty if she took advantage of her mom’s
carefulness. Ashes has a lot of loyalty toward her mom, but she also craves her
dad's approval. “ She’s not a dreamer, Ashes. She’s the most levelheaded woman
I know. As straight as a yardstick.” Ashes’ mom is like a rock for her, and if
Ashes steals the money she will be betraying her mom, who sacrifices everything
for her. “With Mom, there are a lot of rainy days and she takes a grim sort of
pleasure in being ready for them… her pocketbook overflows with tissues and
tampons for anyone who might need them.” Ashes’ Mom is reliable while her father
is unreliable and untrustworthy. Ashes is torn between two parents, and the
different things her parents provide her with affect the decisions that she
makes. While her father gives her dreams, Ashes’ mom provides for her and loves
her unconditionally.
In
conclusion, Ashes’ mom provides her with stability and reliability, while her father
gives her dreams. I predict that Ashes makes the right decision and does not
take the money from her mom. I believe that
Ashes realizes that her father is manipulating her and comes to the hard truth
that her dad isn’t a good father. Many teenagers struggle with believing the
same things that their parents believe, and as they grow up, learn to think for
themselves. The experiences that she has with both parents affect the decisions
she makes in her life, both big and small.
