Cully is Hal's son, a football player and one of the boys that raped Willa. The chapter he narrates explores his relationship with the man he works with as security, Jose, and the impact Jose's influence has on him.
Hal is a failure as a father and a role model.
He teaches Cully all the wrong things. He never lets Cully be responsible for his actions and is quick to blame everyone and anyone for his and Cully's mistakes. He gives horrible advice that lacks any substance. He can't help Cully with his guilt over what he did to Willa because he can't accept that Cully is anything but perfect.
Jose gives Cully tangible advice, things that he can do to actively change his life for the better. One such piece of advice has to do with Cully's friends. "Jose had warned him off guys like Brad, who tried to use meanness as a masquerade for manliness." (Steinke 350). Unlike with Hal's advice, Cully actually listens to Jose. The is shown by the fact that he is "trying to escape" his friends and doesn't "want to hang out with Brad and Bishop anymore." (Steinke 350). Cully knows that if he continues to hang out with them, "there would be more accidental fuckups like the one with Willa Lambert, which still clawed at him" (Steinke 351). He sincerely feels an immense amount of guilt because of what he did to Willa and doesn't want anyone else to get hurt because of him. He doesn't want to ruin anyone else's life or his own life any further. If he stays with his friends, it will happen again.
Cully obviously holds Jose in high esteem. He calls Jose "more honorable than Avery ever would be." (Steinke 353). Jose, simply put, is a good man. It is because of his influence that Cully begins taking responsibility for what he did to Willa. Cully's steps towards positive accountability may seem small to us, but to Cully they are huge. Prior to this, Cully has not been allowed to take responsibility for his actions. Now, he is starting to take responsibility and tries to repair the emotional damage he has caused to Willa by apologizing to her, albeit through an anonymous letter. This is something he never would have done had it not been for Jose's influence on him.
Your analysis sheds light on a relationship that I glanced over relatively quickly while reading the novel. Jose doesn't strike the reader as a driving character throughout the plot, but you have clearly proved otherwise. You provide substantial evidence that clearly depicts Jose's importance to Cully's enlightened behavior. I also found it clever how you compared Jose and Hal as role models to Cully. It was interesting to see such a minor character like Jose supersede Hal as the ideal father figure. You pointed out concrete facts to convey your point. Hal's advice was always abstract and hard to apply to life. Jose provided advice that was tangible, so Cully was able to take the words and put them into practice.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the relationship dynamics was thorough and very clear. Your evidence provided substantial facts, and it was a well put together argument.
Given that Hal has failed as a father, what do you propose could be the reasons for Hal's parenting? Hal tries hard to make a sturdy relationship, but then fails. What does Jose have that Hal seems to be lacking?
great question!
DeleteHalina, your analysis of Jose and Cully's relationship is good. I too wonder what Jose has that Hal doesn't. What do you think?
ReplyDelete--Prof. Young