John, that is not a sinner, is blamed instead of Elizabeth and of Roy. Only John was nameless and a unfamiliar person, living unalterable testimony to his mom’s day in sin”(p. But you will discover sinners in their house too: Elizabeth was pregnant before she met Gabriel: “…her kids and Gabriel’s: Roy, Delilah, Paul. This may symbolically produces the structure of the very first bad thing commited by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.Īdditionally there is a contrast between John and Roy’s as well as the people outside: everybody outside the house seems to be a sinner, except the church-members: “…below them, men and women, and boys and girls, sinners all, loitered …”(p. Once Roy’s good friend come beneath the fire escape to phone him, Roy can’t resist and he leaves. Every single child is fascinated by strange things. Besides, the rockpile has anything mysterious itself, “it was a strange location to find a mass of all-natural rock jutting out of the ground”(p. When you prohibit children to complete something, you could be sure they are going to do it, because they do not know why it truly is forbidden. First coming from all, his mother told him not to take a look. Roy is tempted to travel and perform at the place where the rockpile stands, which for different reasons. In summary, this family is characterized by the presence of a wicked father, yet also by excessive reactions, and finally by lack of freedom of the children.Īnother key theme is a one of temptations and desprovisto. The only freedom that they enjoy should be to sit on the fire escape after they father is usually not at your home if having been home, they might not have any flexibility at all. The youngsters have got insufficient freedom. They react as if he was going to pass away when he just has a ” light ” scar. Another point is that both these styles the parents overreact to what took place to Roy. Elizabeth uses Delilah as a safeguard twice: the very first time when your woman comes down to tell Gabriel what happened, and the second time following she has informed him what she thought about him. 15).ĭavid stands just before Gabriel as if he was ahead of God, one who punishes you for your sins.
The child stared on the man in fascination and terror” (p. “John was standing just before him it seemed to her amazed vision slightly below him, under his fist, his heavy shoe. In fact, it seems obvious that they are in danger from the moment Gabriel is back home. Therefore, he should be a great father, nevertheless he surpasses John and Elizabeth.