What might it mean that kevin feels caught between two different “fathers”—at home with his family and at school with his teacher, who is a priest? why might the author give this word multiple meanings? your answer should be between one and three paragraphs in length.

The word father in the story has two meanings. First, it implies the love and protection of his biological father. Kevin’s father is a cheerful man who is always willing to help his son and provides a warm and loving home. Kevin’s teacher, on the other hand, is a cold man who ridicules Kevin. The author uses these two “fathers” to develop the theme of fatherly love in the story. Father Waldo represents discipline, restrictions, and strict social hierarchy. At school Kevin is encouraged to be ashamed of his father because of his lack of education and job as a barman. Ironically it’s his father and family who encourage him to value his education:

“We never got the chance,” his mother would say to him. “It wouldn’t have done me much good but your father could have bettered himself. He’d be teaching or something now instead of serving behind a bar. He could stand up with the best of them.”

Thus the author is setting up a choice for Kevin to make. He can choose to reject his roots and embrace the social order of the school or cling to his place as a member of the family. Kevin makes his choice in the end, when he lies to his father to protect him from the shame of not having the correct answers.

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explanation:

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i decided to stay late in the laboratory to continue my experiment with the lightbulb. at midnight, thomas edison opened the door and walked in with his head held high.

1. he leaned on the wall and observed me carefully.

2. his harsh scrutiny made me self-conscious of my skills in the lab.

3. perhaps it was just me, but the air in the laboratory began to thicken as i found myself having difficulty to breathe.

4. i turned to look at him fully as i mentally prepared myself for what my very first words would be to thomas edison.

5. the next couple of seconds shocked me. it wasn't me who spoke, but rather him and with diction i could never think of using in a simple sentence.

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hey, sorry if this was bad, i really didn't know what to write but i wanted to you. is there anything that you had to include within the excerpt?