Contrast in the father-son relationships

Nick Werber creates contrast between the father-son relationships in the story “Braces” by Nick Werber to highlight the differences between Nick’s father' and grandfather' understanding of their role as fathers. This also shows how apparently opposite approaches can ultimately lead to similar results.

For example, Nick’s father and Nick’s grandfather each value different things in life, which also affects their behaviour as fathers. Nick’s grandfather values science and practicality, which is why he forces his son to give up acting and choose a respectable profession. It also seems that he places no value on emotions, talent, and dreams, which prevents him from having an authentic relationship with his son. He also does not respect his son’s decision to become an actor later in life, and he probab...