Themes and message

The main themes of the short story “Father and Son” by Bernard MacLaverty” are conflict and violence, and broken family relationships. As you have seen, the story is about the way a violent context negatively influences the relationship between a father and his son.…

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Broken family relationships

Both the communication and the relationship between the two characters is broken. None of them knows how to talk with the other. The father wants to show his son love and affection, but his concerns turn into reproach and he acts in an overprotective way:

"If I know what you’re doing I don’t worry as much."
"Shit."…

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Symbolism and use of contrasts

The depiction of the flowered garden which is now full of weeds can be interpreted as a symbol of the deterioration of the relationship between the two characters. …

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Message

Overall, the message of the author is that violence and …