Reflection of Short Story Mercy Essay - 1154 Words

Hunter Hendricks Mercy Essay Professor Malloy 17 October 2012 Steel-Toeless In Pinckney Benedict’s 2008 short story â€Å"Mercy,† the narrator and his father both take pride in their family’s ranch. The narrator works hard for his father each day, taking breaks only to sneak treats to the miniature horses being kept on the neighbor’s ranch nearby. The narrator’s father; however, does not show the same compassion for the animals as his son. He is adamant about keeping the horses off of his land and warns his son that he will shoot to first to intrude. The narrator views his father in a very austere manner. When we are first introduced to the narrator’s father we find that he has a no-nonsense view of life. He does not†¦show more content†¦The father knows how much the horses means to his son, so giving him this job shows that he does not actually want to have to kill them. In addition, the father takes the time to ask his son about the horses when he finds his son out on the fence, â€Å"What makes them run like that?† (125). He even goes as far to ask if his son would like to own one. The narrator is hesitant to answer, not sure if it a trick question or not. He answers truthfully, saying yes that he would like to own one. It is at this moment that we first see the fathers caring side. The father is showing an interest in what matters to his son. Second, the father shows he is empathetic. For instance, when the narrator finds himself waiting on his father while he loads the steers into the trailer to take to the stockyard. His father insisted that he stay in the cab as he did not have steel-toed boots and could easily lose a toe, just as he had done. Again this shows how his father is worried about more than just getting work done. The narrator is intently watching in the rearview mirror as his father loads his favorite steer, Rug, onto the trailer and then finishes up with the others. Just then his father stopped. â€Å"When they were all embarked, when for the moment his work was done, his face fell slack and dull, and his shoulders slumped. And for a brief instant he stood still, motionless, as I had neverShow MoreRelatedReflection Paper 1787 Words   |  4 PagesFebruary 10, 2013 Theo 104 Reflection Paper #1 I. Introduction This paper will be written to discuss ideas that have been discussed in Theology 104. This class has covered such a wide range of topics in just the first 4 weeks. The 2 topics I have decided to write about are the importance of personal testimonies and God’s grace. II. Part One a. Theological Definition A testimony is how one person’s Christian walk came to be. They are used to show how someone was saved. 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