What is the significance of the title, “Shooting Dad”?
I think the title of this short story goes much deeper than respecting dad’s last wishes, shooting his ashes out of his homemade cannon. This story signifies a father and daughter being worlds apart in their younger years, but in the end, coming together as family and respecting each other for who they are.
Even though Sarah Vowell and her father antagonized each other through the years, as they got older they came to respect each other for their differences and their unique gifts they brought to the family, Sarah the love of her music, and dad the love of his guns. Initially these two people failed to see the artistry in each other’s lives and hobbies within their respective work spaces. As time went on Sarah wanted to become a better daughter and learn about her dad’s love of guns which she did through the cannon he built. She explained to her dad that she wanted to be there when he shot the cannon. Her father was very surprised by this. She looked at the cannon as a tribute to her father, “a ceremonial object”. (p22) Father and daughter were together when the cannon was shot for the first time. They both thought, it was just really, really cool”. (p22)
At the end of the story Sarah, out of love for her father, does respect his last wishes. She realizes that her father’s love of fire arms is part of American history and his family heritage. On the first day of hunting season she takes her father’s ashes to a special mountain and shoots them out of the cannon that he was so proud of. Family might have different interests, hobbies or beliefs, but bottom line, family is family no matter what.
Hi Barb,
ReplyDeleteIm with you in the end, family is family no matter what. NO matter how many differences we may have we will still maintain that love and respect for each other even if we dont see eye to eye on everything.
Hi Barb,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great answer to the question. I too agree that in the end she realized her father's love of guns was just who he was. I like you put page numbers in your paragraph. I really enjoyed reading this.
Hello
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed this story we grow up and relize that we are very simular to the ones we, as young people, thought we were so different then. I read the ending of the story differently though, I thought her father was still alive and had just made the family very aware of his wishes. family for me is what makes the world go round.
BetteJo
P.S. Thanks for posting early.
Hi Barb,
ReplyDeleteYou have me thinking about the meaning people attribute to difference. In this case, Sarah needed to manifest a difference from her father, and she gave particular meaning and value to her difference and her perceived differences from her father.
By the end of the story, she realizes that some of the differences were fabricated and some of the differences remain, but the meaning she gives her dad's differences are completely different. She can attribute some value to him without feeling like it's taking away from her own identity. That's maturity and the result of great self-reflection.
Thanks for giving me more to think about!
Lauren
Hi Barb,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your write. When I read what you have written, it is easy to follow. It just flows. The younger generation and the older generation have always had differences, and for the most part as each ages, they become more tolerant of each other.
Thank you
Benjamin
Hi Barb,
ReplyDeleteAs iread your reflection i really agreed on the part where you talked about how guns were more than just a hobbie but more of an american hertigae. My father love his guns but as i grew older i saw that he loved guns because he grew up around them all the time. He'd thought if me and my sister were around them we would come to like guns, but turned out i was scared of guns and never had the nerve to be around one. I enjoyed your reflection, keep up the great work.
Myra A