Devereaux Being Their Only Child example essay topic

The protagonist William Henry Devereaux, Jr appears to play a role of a spoiled child, a typical example of one being groomed by a successful family of scholars, whose expectations are high in Richard Russo's "Dog". Devereaux used to behave in a way that no one would expect a child of academic nomads to act. He was an exceptional child. "It is not an easy time for any parent, this moment when the realization dawns that you have given birth to something that will never see things the way you do, despite the fact that it is your living legacy, that it bears your name". (527).

Devereaux was a spoilt child who only thought about owning a dog. To Devereaux owning a dog means the world to him; the only child and at the age of nine, he is very exasperating, almost impossible to handle. Is it because he is the only child? It seems like he is looking for a companion simply because his parent did not bear any other siblings for him to play with when at home.

After school all he talks about are dogs. Possibly the only way for him to divert some of his energy is if he has a dog, especially at nine the playful age. His parents both being teachers must have had great deal of work on their hands thus failing to devote time to attend to their son. "What did I want for my birthday? A dog" (523) A dog is all that made sense to him; at the library he checks out a dozen books about various types of dogs he likes to have. Of which in the long run after reading would leave lying around the house.

At meals Devereaux only talks about the various breeds that he would like to have. "Collie puppies, beagle puppies, Lab puppies, shepherd puppies", (525) Surprisingly, his parents highly respected and of high academic achievements, do not succeed in convincing him or changing his stance towards dogs. Despite the fact that both his parents are English professors in this case highly cultured, should be in position to manage their own son. His father a great writer only expected to "think, write and publish his next book to the institution" (523) and his mother who holds diner parties for people of high integrity such as the dean or even a when the community has a visiting poet. This greatly shows how his parents are expected to be models among the school community full of other young scholars; probably at one point in time will have to be taught by scholars who cannot manage their own son. Sadly, they watch their son get deranged without any action being taken and later in life his father earning credit for being the father of American Literary Theory.

"He's also written a literary memoir that was short-listed for a major award twentieth century" (527) unfortunately still fails his own and only son. While time goes by, his parents continue to neglect the fact that Devereaux being their only child and at nine fail to fulfill their obligations as highly educated parents. His father always avoiding to talk to him, highly suggests that he knows he's failing to play his role as a father", In all situations I was the only child, I must have been a lonely one" (523) and the only time his mother would want to sermon him his father would leave the room hard-faced, acknowledging that his mother had just conceded a war. Both Devereaux parents admit that they lost their son to madness, always in and out of the refrigerator, rooms, slamming doors and troubling them with questions, constantly interrupting his mother and all he is looking for, is attention and company. His father sometimes avoids being disturbed by spending most of his time in his office only joining them at meal times. Not surprisingly his parent divorce, clearly indicating that they could not raise Devereaux or even their own marriage had failed!

In conclusion Devereaux lives to tell the rough childhood he experiences at such a tender age of nine were negligence and ignorance embrace his parents, despite the fact that both parents are highly respected intellectuals in society. It's a shame that they still fail to fulfill their duty as his parents to a child who will forever bear the mark of their legacy. Russo, Richard. "Dog". Literature Reading, Reading, Writing. Ed.

Laurie Kirshner and Stephen Mandell. Boston: Heine, 2004.522-527.