Charley: The Spoiler Boy

From the evidence above, Pa knows the consequences of certain action. In this case, he knows that the children will burn their finger if they touch the new bullets because it is hot. As an adult character Pa is described as an independent person. He is able to do anything by himself, especially his own duty as man of the family. Pa is described as a character who really knows about anything he is doing. Pa is an expert in skinning the prey, farming, preparing the hunting like making trap and bullets. Pa is also depicted to be able to fulfill the family needs. Commonly, man has duties such as providing foodstuff from hunting 1971:5-6, 21, farming 216, and gathering 194. A man also has role in making his own bullets 45-46 and making furniture 60-62, and doing the trading to the town 102. The other significant role of Pa in the story is as the source of order, rules, direction, and guidance for his children. He is described as the one who can give order and guidance, remind children about the rules, make the standard, and also give reward and punishment to the children. As source of order, he must be obeyed by the children. For example, when he tells Laura to sleep as seen in the saying “Go to sleep, Laura. Jack wont let the wolves in” 1971:3. Laura obeys him directly without complaining or asking any questions. It is said “So Laura snuggled under the covers of the trundle bed, close beside Mary, and went to sleep” 1971:3. It shows his power to give order and to be obeyed. Another example is when Pa makes bullet. It is said, “...while Laura and Mary stood on either side of him, Pa said: ‘You watch me, now, and tell me if I make a mistake.’ So they watched very carefully, ...” 1971:48. He tells his daughters to watch him in making bullet and Mary and Laura do it. Another evidence is when Pa asks Laura to pick some green hickory chips. It is in the following quotation. Then Pa put the roof back again, climbed down the ladder, and said to Laura: ‘Run over to the chopping block and fetch me some of those green hickory chips—new, clean, white ones.’ So Laura ran to the block where Pa chopped wood, and filled her apron with the fresh, sweet-smelling chips 1971:7. Pa is obeyed directly by Laura. Laura does not ask any question to Pa when she is ordered to do something. Laura’s obedience shows that Pa has power and authority as a father. Another characteristic of Pa is he is a person who can remind his children when they do bad things. One day after dinner Pa tells a story to Mary and Laura. The story is about a man who had big cat and a little cat. The man wanted to make cat-holes to his cats. He made two cat-holes to each cat, the big cat-hole for the big cat and the small one is for the little cat. After Pa tells them the story, Laura and Mary discuss about that as in the following quotation. ‘But why couldnt the little cat—‘ Mary began. ‘Because the big cat wouldnt let it,’ Laura interrupted. ‘Laura, that is very rude. You must never interrupt,’ said Pa. ‘But I see,’ he said, ‘that either one of you has more sense than the man who cut the two cat-holes in his door.’ Then he laid away the traps, and he took his fiddle out of its box and began to play. That was the best time of all 1971:23. In saying her opinion, Laura interrupts her sister. According to Pa, interrupting is not allowed. So Pa tells Laura directly that her attitude is very rude. He says that Laura must not interrupt. This shows that father may remind children when they make mistakes in the family. Another proof is when Laura feels bored one Sunday. On Sunday, they are not allowed to do something, like cooking, knitting, doing chores, and for children, playing. Usually “[t]hey must sit quietly and listen when Ma read Bible stories to them...” 1971:85. One Sunday Laura plays with Jack, then she runs and shouts, and Pa reminds her as in the following citation. Pa told her to sit in her chair and be quiet, but when Laura sat down she began to cry and kick the chair with her heels. ‘I hate Sunday’ she said. Pa put down his book. ‘Laura,’ he said sternly, ‘come here’ 1971: 86. Every family has its own rules and it is the parents’ duty to guide children in the purpose to meet the standard. In this case, Ingalls’ family live in the culture in which Sunday is the day for God. They use Sunday to read Bible and discuss the stories in it. When Laura ‘forgets’ this rule, Pa as a father has to remind her. At the first time, Pa just tells her to sit on the chair, but after she is angry, Pa calls her, in the stern voice. This calling means that Laura does something bad and her father has to tell her about her mistakes. In addition, Pa is described as character that gives a standard and provides a judgment of what is good or what is wrong, and also gives reward when children meet the standard. Pa as the source of this standard is described as the main character where the children try to put themselves in the base of being good children. Whenever the children follow the rules and standard, he will give a reward for this behavior. One of the examples can be seen when Pa explains to them why he came home without bringing any venison. Pa says it is not because there were no deer in the woods. Pa saw a doe with her yearling and that made Pa did not want to shoot them. After that