The Male child Who Loved Ice Cream by Olive Senior

The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream - Olive SeniorIn The Boy Who Loved Ice Foam by Olive Senior nosotros have the theme of want, jealousy, insecurity, innocence, control, change, conflict and coming of age. Taken from her Summer Lightning and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person past an unnamed narrator and subsequently reading the story the reader realises that Senior may be exploring the theme of desire. Benjy has never had water ice foam before and past the description given to him by Elsa information technology is something that fascinates him. So potent is Benjy's want to get some ice foam at the Harvest Festival Sale that he can't focus on anything else. It is as though Benjy is totally preoccupied with the prospect of getting ice foam. This may be important as Senior may be highlighting how innocent Benjy is. Something that is further noticeable when the reader discovers that Benjy has no real agreement as to the value of money. He has never needed money before merely he knows that his father has to pay for the ice foam. This likewise might be important as there is a sense that Benjy is somewhat under the control of his father. As too is Benjy'southward mother.

Information technology is also interesting that Benjy's mother is open to change different her husband who appears to be rooted in his behavior equally to what life should be. If anything Benjy'south father keeps outside influences at bay. Something that is noticeable by his refusal to go to church and the fact that the only time he leaves One Center is for the Harvest Festival Sale. It is as though he lives his life to a strict ready of rules or that he has a regime that he must follow. Which is opposite to how Benjy'south female parent feels. This may be important as it opens up the possibility of conflict between both Benjy'south mother and father. A conflict that may have been triggered by issues with regard to Benjy's paternity. Benjy'due south male parent doubts that Benjy is his son. Though he has no evidence he has nagging suspicions which continue to play on his mind. Something that is actually noticeable at the end of the story when Benjy's father catches Benjy'south mother taking to the practiced looking man in the majestic shirt. Though some critics might advise that Benjy'due south father'due south suspicions are credible it may likewise be a case that he is thinking also much about something that has never happened and that the existent outcome is one of trust. Benjy'south begetter doesn't trust his wife.

At that place may likewise be some symbolism in the story which is of import. The ice foam that Benjy desires so much can symbolise both happiness and loss. Happiness because of how Elsa has described ice foam to Benjy and loss because Benjy through his father'south actions never gets the opportunity to taste water ice cream. The fact that three religious faiths are as well mentioned could suggest the importance of faith to those who live in Springville. Already the reader is enlightened that Benjy's female parent attends church every Sun. The adept looking man in the majestic shirt could too be symbolically important every bit he acts as the trigger for Benjy'due south father's jealousy and insecurity. Senior also appears to be using calorie-free to place an emphasis on the excitement that Benjy feels about going to the Harvest Festival Sale. As Benjy passes past the wild brazilwood branches he comes out of the semi-darkness of the path and onto what to Benjy is the broadest street he has e'er seen. Covered in marl and white. Information technology is equally though Benjy's eyes have been opened up to a world he has never seen before.

The stop of the story is interesting as it becomes clear to the reader that Benjy is coming of historic period. Non only has he to bargain with the reality that his ice cream has fallen to the ground and that he has lost out on the opportunity to taste ice cream. But Benjy's begetter is then enraged that Benjy'due south female parent is talking to the human being in the royal shirt that the reader is left to conclude that there will exist a confrontation between Benjy's father, female parent and the human in the purple shirt. The root of the problem in Benjy'south father'due south eyes being that Benjy is not his child. On what should take been a happy occasion for Benjy turns out to be a day of disappointment. He is to witness an encounter that he is besides young to witness. Ane that is sure to stick in Benjy's mind. Rather than walking back abode and thinking how nice ice cream is. Benjy's globe may be turned upside down considering of his father's jealousy and insecurity. Life may never be the same for Benjy. Any innocence that he in one case had may soon exist lost.

Cite Post

McManus, Dermot. "The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream by Olive Senior." The Sitting Bee. The Sitting Bee, ii Jun. 2018. Spider web.