Parents’ actions can greatly influence their children’s identities. Either directly or indirectly, they have the authority to dictate a child’s path. Parents use distinct types of styles to raise their offspring. The three passages, “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich (2 short stories), and “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls (Memoir), are notable examples of how parents can use similar and/or different techniques to raise their children. In the short story “The Leap” it discusses the life of an ex-trapeze artist named Anna, who lived a very fulfilling and confident life. The story starts with her walking throughout the house, now blind from cataracts, flawlessly without fail. She can contribute this to her early days when she was part of a blind trapeze act. Many times, throughout her life, she has had a positive impact on her child’s identity. One specific time in …show more content…
Dee wants to display them as art, while Maggie wants to use them for their intended purpose. Dee is extremely outgoing and brash when it comes to getting what she wants, while Maggie is the direct opposite of this. Maggie could be classified as a very shy, social person. She gained these traits after surviving a deadly house fire and escaping with third burns covering her body. In paragraph 77 of “The Leap” it says “I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero’s (Dee) hands and dumped them into Maggie’s lap. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open.” Mama had to decide between her two daughters and ultimately chose Maggie. In paragraph 84 it says, “Maggie smiled.a real smile, not scared.” This quote shows that Mama’s actions affected her child in an incredibly positive way because after years of being self-conscious, Maggie finally feels genuine