Private Talk With Holly Essay

Improving oneself does not come without sacrifice and discomfort. However, the resulting growth can make it all worthwhile. As demonstrated in the story of Private Talk with Holly by Henry Gregor Felsen, change can be difficult; especially for the “Dad” whose “big little girl,” Holly has always been by his side. The theme of sacrifice and growth is then pursued as the “Dad” discovers how, in the midst of discomfort and uncertainty, letting go can be the right thing to do, and perhaps even more freeing than remaining in his state of comfort and contentment as love can be shown in more ways than one.
Right from the start, the Dad and Holly’s love for each other is evident, as Holly has been bonding with his father and has been his fishing partner

In the beginning of the story, the Dad shows signs of early internal development as he let Holly “develop her own interests,” even if it means he spends less time with her. However, underlying this eagerness was the hesitancy the Dad possessed. In fact, he does not seem to even accept the reality that his daughter is growing up, as he still likes to treat her as the little child he knows by calling her his “big little girl” who he “couldn’t go fishing without.” Nevertheless, even with his partial development and partial willingness to ‘let go,’ the Dad will never be ready for what is to come; Holly’s college announcement will catch him off guard. In addition, although the Dad does not fully understand it yet, he will soon come to realize that once he ‘lets go’ of Holly, both the Dad and Holly will become exposed to a different environment, where the learning curve of living with a family to living in solitude is inevitable. Consequently, despite the negative air separation carries with it, this kind of separation is a bittersweet yet highly pivotal part in all teens’ lives including Holly’s as she starts to prioritize, find her own individuality, and take a stand in where she wants to be in life. So in essence, the Dad is doing his daughter a huge favor by letting