‘A Cap for Steve’ by Morley Callahan, the character of the father, Dave struggles to provide for his family. This causes him to be easily angered and direct these negative emotions at his son. Though Dave’s hardship has made him angry and egotistical, he later on proves to fight off his insecurities and show his compassion. Dave is trying extremely hard to support his family financially but in turn, he comes off looking very greedy and frugal.
Very early on in the story, it’s shown that he is a poor man who knows the value of the dollar. His son, Steve’s “failure to appreciate that the family needed a few extra dollars…” appalled Dave. It’s also difficult for Dave because he is the only form of income in his family as “His wife, Anna, had been sick a lot…” and Steve was still in school and would much rather play baseball with his friends rather than get an afterschool job. Dave’s stinginess is tested when Steve’s favorite baseball team comes to town.
Dave is hesitant to take him due to the money situation, but compromises with Steve. As they’re walking down to the game, Dave shows some affection towards his son by pretending to be excited. “…then Dave glanced at Steve’s face and, half-ashamed, took his arm more cheerfully. ” It seems that Dave’s attitude is constantly negative. This is heavily due to his financial issues and he tends to take out his anger on Steve. His mood got worse once Steve got the cap from the famous baseball player.
Steve loves the cap so much; it has so much importance to him that “…he wore it from the time he got up in the morning until the time he went to bed. ” This really frustrates Dave; he hates the way his son gloats about it to all of his friends. Dave is a very strict father who refuses to be crossed. He lays down the rules of the house and if any of these are broken, he will scold you. “I’ll show you you can’t start coming into the house at midnight. ” Some may say that this is a bad method of discipline, and others may argue that it teaches the child obedience.
The Essay on A Man Named Dave 2
A Man Named Dave, by Dave Pelzer is the story of hope and eventual love and how a child called “It” finally found himself as a man free at last, after early childhood experiences as the son of a brutal, alcoholic mother. When his father is dying of cancer, Dave attempts to reestablish contact with him, he spends innumerable hours with his father, trying to disentangle in his mind the broken family ...
When it comes down to it, it creates a bad relationship between Dave and Steve. Though Dave appears to be arrogant, it’s really an act to cover up his insecurities. It’s easy to see that Dave is insecure about himself and the way he’s living. When Dave and his son go to the home of the boy who has Steve’s hat, it’s clear that Dave is intimidated as soon as he steps into the elevator because of the difference in lifestyles. “When they got into the small elevator Dave didn’t know why he took off his hat. When Mr. Hudson offers Dave twenty dollars for the cap, he is bewildered. Dave obviously wants the money, but not because he is greedy –as it was first shown– but because he wants to help support his family. In the end, Dave shows himself to be a sensitive man. He truly wants a good relationship with his son, and once he sees that he’s pushing Steve away, he realizes that he has to change what he’s doing. Dave’s true colors finally show. “He longed now to show Steve he could be with him from day to day. ”
