Premium Essay

Son of Satan

In:

Submitted By ali1384
Words 808
Pages 4
1) Essay: Son of Satan (Analysis)
Charles Bukowski wrote the short story “Son of Satan” in 1987.
The short story is about an 11-year old boy, who is telling the story from his point of view. The story is a 1st person narrator, because the pronoun “I” is used.
The story takes place during summer vacation. The narrator and his two best friends Morgan and Hass are all bored, while smoking cigarettes behind his father´s garage. Suddenly out of nowhere they decide to bully one of the other boys from the neighborhood called Simpson, who claims that he had sex with a girl. The narrator claims that he is lying and they start beating him and threaten to hang him with a rope. Simpson survives and tells his parents about the episode. The parents call the boys father. It leads into a conversation between the father and his son that develops into a little fight.
The narrator, Hass and Morgan have formed a group, and the main character is the leader of the group. He is the youngest of the group, but still he is trying to be tougher than he is. His reputation means a lot to him; even though he does not want to be mean. He always has to be the “big guy” in front of Hass and Morgan and doesn’t show any weakness.
“I feel like letting him go. Maybe he hadn’t fucked anybody. Maybe he had just been daydreaming. But I was the young leader. I couldn’t show any sympathy” (page 40, line 71-73)
It’s only in front of people that the main character is mean. In one of the scenes after hanging Simpson, they all run home, but the narrator realizes that he has nowhere to go, and decides to run back and untie Simpson. The narrator feels some kind of sympathy, and is afraid that Simpson might be dead. The narrator didn’t have any reasons for what he did to Simpson; he actually thinks that Simpson is a nice boy.
“Yet, there was something nice about him anyhow” (Page 43, line 24)

As

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Son of Satan

...Son of satan a) A summary “Son of Satan” is a story told by the main character (MC). He tells about an episode which toke place in his past, in an age of 11 years. It is a story, which is very influenced by slang words as characterize the environment where the story takes place. The story is about a boy in an age of 11, also mentioned as the MC (main character). He is the leader in a group, which consist of two other boys. In the beginning of the story, the group is planning to go catch Simpson, a boy from the neighborhood. They find him as a disgrace to their neighborhood and accuse him for having sex with a girl under the MC’s house. The MC is taking the word when they arrive at Simpson’s garage, where Simpson is playing handball against himself. The group surrounding Simpson and leads him back to the MC’s backyard. In the backyard they start bullying, verbally and physical, and put him into ‘the kangaroo court’ where they declared Simpson guilty. The MC sentences him to be hanging by neck until dead. After Simpson has been hanged, all three boys run of. But something makes the MC returning and releasing Simpson. Shocked the MC comes home in the evening, where his furious father is waiting. He beats the MC up, and tells him that he must be a son of Satan. MC is in the end lying under the bed, waiting for the father’s next step. b) The narrator/main character and his father The narrator/main character is a boy, who experiences...

Words: 565 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Son of Satan

...Analysis and interpretation of Charles Bukowski’s short story “Son of Satan”. Rebellious behavior of today’s youth and vulgar vocabulary in early age can be developed by domestic violence, economic hardship and the loneliness caused by paternal indifference. This short story shows how important a good parenting and upbringing is and to maintain an image in front of your child, because the fact is that you become like your parents. The short story takes place in America and the reader gets the impression that the event takes place some sort of suburbs a day which seems like a nice hot summer day: “…and it was summer, no school, and we sat on the grass in the sun behind my father’s garage…”(1 line2) The short story starts in media res and as reader you are thrown into the middle of things without previous introduction to the characters and events. You only get a very short introduction to the three boys, the protagonist, Hass and Morgan, who are the main characters of the story and to the settings which makes it easier for the reader to paint a mental picture of the three. The short story is build chronologically and probably stretches from the middle of the day until early evening. It could take place at any time. It is written in 1st person narrator and is told in past tense. It makes you get into the head of an 11-year-old boy who is also the protagonist. This means that you only hear his opinion and point of view of the event which colors the story. The protagonist is...

Words: 1028 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Son of Satan

...Son of Satan Narrator: The story takes place in America in the summer. The three boys in the story are in age of eleven to twelve years old. Character: All the characters are round because they have a description. Morgan and Hass are both presented like the best friends to the narrator and as some sort of minions, so that makes the presentation of them bad to my. Simpson is presented as a wimp. He is a freckled boy who is a loner. The father is presented as some sort of military dad. He is strict and very, very hard on the narrator. Therefore, that is not the best presentation to get. Describe the hierarchy: The leader is the I narrator, because we see in the text he always say I feel sorry for him, but I can't let him go, I don't want to show any weakness" and it's easy to see who have the leading word.7 Explain the sexual associations: The sexual associations of the pun "Look who is playing with himself" they say by trying to tell him that he is a trouble for them and that they are many contrary to him, so they have the chance to beat him without getting resestins. There are other similar examples in the text as: "I don't believe you've ever fucked anybody but yourself!" and "You don't even have a dick! You piss out of your ear! "And "No, my ass!" How do the boys bully and intimidate Simpsons verbally and physically? The boys bully and intimidate Simpson very much. They laughed at him and said bad words too. They shot him also hard right to his belly and called...

Words: 867 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Son of Satan

...Analysis on Son of Satan by Charles Bukowski, 1982 Hej skat. Du kan lige læse den igennem. Jeg ved ikke, om der er noget, der skal slettes eller tilføjes. Mangler din del til at kunne skrive den helt færdig. Elsker dig Are we born evil? Or is it something we are raised to be? Is it possible to be truly evil, do horrible things, show no remorse and not feel bad or regret your wrongdoing? Is anger such a strong feeling in some people that they have to act upon it in such ways that there is no turning back? And can a person really feel such hate for another human being just for behaving differently? These are all questions that start to form inside your head after reading the short story Son of Satan written in 1982 by Charles Bukowski. The story takes place in a small middle-class-type neighborhood near a larger city. It is summer, school is out and a group of three boys; the narrator, Morgan and Hass, in their early teens are sitting on the grass of the narrator’s backyard smoking cigarettes, talking about another boy, Simpson, who has claimed to have had sex with a girl under the house of the narrator. This leads to the decision of punishing him for lying: (Page 39, line 20-25) Though they are no more than eleven to twelve years of age, they do not behave as children like we know them. They do not play hide and seek or run about laughing or play video games. They swear, smoke and act like the grownups they see in video games. The protagonist does not mention his name...

Words: 1034 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Son of Satan

...vi har talt om, er der forskel på definitionen af et essay, når det skrives i faget dansk, og når det skrives i faget engelsk i gymnasiet. Jeg vil bede jer om at se helt bort fra, hvad et essay skal indeholde i faget dansk. Her skal I KUN fokusere på det engelske essay. Hvis I skriver et essay efter den model, vi har talt om, er I på rette vej. Det papir I fik udleveret om det engelske essay i STX er godt at have ved hånden, når I skriver. Fokusér på essayets tredelte struktur med en introduktion, en analyse (hoveddel/’body’) og en konklusion. Introduktionen skal introducere læseren til dét, I har valgt at skrive om, og hvad I har tænkt dig at problematisere, f.eks. tesen (the thesis statement), at fortælleren, Hass og Morgan fra ”Son of Satan” opfører sig som de gør, fordi de er et produkt af deres opvækst i forstæderne. – Det er et tænkt eksempel, men hvis vi siger, at det er den tese vi vil skrive ud fra i vores essay, så er det op til os at finde eksempler på dette i selve teksten, så vi kan argumentere for denne tese. Husk der skal være en rød tråd i opgaven. Dvs. introduktion, analyse og konklusion skal passe sammen. Det I skriver i introduktionen, skal I argumentere for i analysen og resultatet opsummeres i konklusionen. Så har I et essay, der hænger sammen på den rigtige måde i faget engelsk. Jeg vil se hele jeres opgave som en sammenhængende enhed, men i jeres første essay vil jeg især kigge på jeres introduktioner og se, hvordan de passer sammen med resten af essayet...

Words: 532 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Son of Satan

...Bukowski’s ’Son Of Satan’ The main character is a very insecure boy with low-esteem, his father violent against him. The low-esteem is reflected in his behavior and the is a aggressive young man. It’s a first person narrator, because it says “I” all the time, which is this 11 year old boy. The narrator is some sort of a leader in the group. He thinks that he can’t back off from anything because that would make him a weak leader. I think that even though he is a year younger than Hass and Morgan, he sees himself as a role model for them. In the beginning of the story, the narrator and his friends is planning to go catch Simpson, a boy from the neighborhood. They find him as a disgrace to their neighborhood and accuse him for having sex with a girl under the main character’s house. The main character is taking the word when they arrive at Simpson’s garage, where Simpson is playing handball alone. The group surrounding Simpson and leads him back to the main character’s backyard. In the backyard they start bullying, verbally and being physical, and put him into ‘the kangaroo court’ where they declared Simpson guilty. The main sentences him to be hanging by neck until dead. After Simpson has been hanged, all three boys run of. But something makes the main character returning and releasing Simpson. Shocked the main character comes home in the evening, where his furious father is waiting. He beats the main character up, and tells him that he must be a son of Satan. The main...

Words: 288 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Son of Satan

...Son of Satan The short story ”Son of Satan” is a story about an eleven-year-old boy and his friends. The story takes place in the narrator’s neighborhood during summer. The narrator, whose name we don’t get, and his friends are very bored. They crave for something interesting to do, so they decide to molest one of the other boys in the neighborhood called Simpson. They only choose Simpson because the narrator claims that he has been having sex with a girl. This ends up with Simpson getting beat up, and at last they try to suffocate him, by hanging him in the narrators backyard. But it didn’t turn out the way they planned it, because Simpson survives and informs his parents about the episode. When the narrator comes back home in the evening, it isn’t a happy home to get back to. The narrator is a mentally frustrated boy. He is the leader in his group, and he doesn’t want to loose face. The most important part for him is, that he can’t show any kind of weakness,(p. 2, l.25-26) and even though he feels bad about hurting Simpson,(p. 3, l. 43-44) he continues because his reputation and leader role can’t get ruined. The narrators “friends” I would prefer to call minions. They obey all the things he say, and does what he tells them to. For example on page three line 36 when the narrator demands Morgan to give him a cigarette, he finds one right away, sticks it into his mouth and lights it up without any hesitation. The father on the other hand, isn’t under the narrator’s...

Words: 809 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Analysis of: Son of Satan

...Narrator: Who tells the story? The story is told by our main character. He seems reliable, we’re in his mind and know what he’s thinking, hearing and feeling. He’s 11 years old and smokes, so he does though seem to be “on the wrong road”. Point of view: Is it a limited point of view? Yes, we only see the things our main character sees. In the final scene what do we get to know through the father’s voice? We get to know that the father hates his son, and that it’s not the first time he have beaten him. We found out that the main character also hates the dad, and when he grows older he wants to kill him. The dad then tells him he’s the son of satan. Time aspect: When does he tell the story? The story is wrote in past tense, some kind of flashback, where our main character is telling a story from when he was young. It’s told in first person narrator. How old was he when the events took place? He was eleven years old. How does the time gap affect our reading of the story? It gives a feel, that the story has been something worth remembering and passing on. Character: Examine the characters and how they are presented: Main character: He is the youngest of the group, age 11. He’s the leader, and also feels like he has to show the other boys that he’s a strong leader. Hass: Hass is a part of the group, and is a little more sensitive than the others, or so it seems. He doubts if what they’re doing is right at some time, but our main character gets him convinced...

Words: 550 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Son of Satan Resume

...Charles Bukowski has written this short story (Son of Satan). Charles Bukowski was a very famous writer and was famous for describing the atmosphere in L.A., which is why I think the story takes place in L.A. It takes place in the poor part of L.A for the reason that the main character on page 13 “walks in the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed and looks down at his cheap shoes”. They cannot afford good shoes, so the story takes place in the poor area. That is also why it seems to me that Charles is the main character in this short story. I ponder this is something he has experienced and then have chosen to write about, to tell such a serious story. But Charles Bukowski is also very famous for his very strange stories so it could be both things. But I believe it is something Charles has experienced. And the environment leads us up to the themes. I think there are a lot of themes in this story. But one of the themes is to tell how a 12 years old, who is living in a poor neighborhood and smoke cigarettes with his friends is thinking and how he is behaving. The reason of the boys’ behavior could have something to do with the social heritage and because of the fact that there is no one to look after the three boys. In my view the main themes are to tell that kids who lives in a poor area and no family to say what is right and what is wrong is most likely to become a “Son of Satan”. Our narrator in this story is a first person narrator. We do not know what our first person’s...

Words: 576 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Son of Satan Essay

...Son of Satan an english essay by Malte Lindhard Nielsen 2.C Growing up, you might be insecure about where you belong in life. You are trying to find your place in this world, and sometimes you do things you wouldn't normally do, in the wish of acceptance. This issue is described in the short story “Son of Satan”, where three insecure boys try to find their limits. The boys push each other into bullying another boy, that only wants to be their friend. In the story we are confronted with peer pressure, neglecting parents and bullying. Things that probably everyone can link to their own upbringing. Son of Satan is a horror short story which follows three young boys at the age of eleven and twelve. The narrator, the youngest of them, represents a young boy, seeking acceptance from the elder boys, Hass and Morgan. In the fear of getting excluded from the gang, they push each other into harming another boy, Simpson, even though they do not want to. The narrator is the leader of the gang, and after horrifying Simpson, he wants to let him go, but refuses to do so. He is in a constant battle with himself, and he has to choose between listening to his common sense, telling him to let Simpson go, or his fear of getting pushed out of the group. "I felt like letting him go. Maybe he hadn't fucked anybody. Maybe he had just been day-dreaming. But I was the young leader. I couldn't show any sympathy. P. 2 L. Seventeen to eighteen". He lets his fear of looking weak in the other boys eyes...

Words: 620 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Essay "Son of Satan"

...Essay on Son of Satan As humans, our surroundings and the people we surround us with, reflect the person we become. We are influenced by our childhood homes and the way our parents raised us. Both will stay with us until the end, no matter how deeply we want to forget. Sometimes we have to break free from our background, and that can be a very painful and lonely process, it will demand a strong and resourceful individual. Bullying is something almost every child have experienced, in most cases without any further problems. However, sometimes it gets out of hand and in the worst cases, it can get fatal consequences for both the victim and the bully. Son of Satan is a true example of the last case, as we see the narrator and his group, go beyond every accepted boundary. The narrator and his group consist of three people, distinct divided in rank order. In the bottom is Morgan, he is a follower, and is afraid to go against the narrator. He is used as the narrator’s personal slave. “Gimme a cigarette” (p. 42) the narrator says to Morgan, and as the good friend he is, he sticks one into the narrators mouth, after which he also needs to light it. In the middle of the group is Hass, he is more independent than Morgan and may even be able to challenge the narrator as the leader. “You son of a bitch , I´ll kick your god damned ass!” (p. 42) It demands confidence to speak like that to the leader, and the narrator respects him more than Morgan. He is definitely not going to ask him...

Words: 628 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Essay: Son of Satan "Analysis"

...Essay: Son of Satan The short story ”Son of Satan” is a story about an eleven years old boy, who is telling us his story through his eyes. The story takes place in the narrator’s neighbourhood during the summer holidays. The narrator and his two friends Hass and Morgan are all bored and in lack something interesting to do they decide to harass one of the other boys from their neighbourhood called Simpson. The narrator claims that Simpson is lying about having sex with a girl and therefore they start beating Simpson whereupon they try to hang him. Simpson survives and tells his parents what happened. Simpson’s parents call the narrator’s father. When the narrator returns from his walk his father confronts him with the hanging and hits him. The narrator is an ill-adjusted boy. He is the leader among his friends and wish to keep his statues. He may not show any weakness (l. 27. p. 42) and continues tormenting Simpson even though he thinks they got far enough he still continues (l. 25. p. 42). On page 41 where they’re holding a kangaroo court the narrator takes the position as the judge and Morgan and Hass is beneath him and taking orders from the narrator. The boys don’t question his authority. In the very beginning of page 42 where Simpson tries to run off and Hass tackles and punches Simpson so the narrator slams Hass across the face with the rope to stop him and Hass doesn’t do much about it. And in line 16 on page 42 the narrator command Morgan to give him at cigarette...

Words: 681 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Paradise Lost

...Paradise Lost By John Milton The Book note Table of Contents Introduction Cast of Characters Plot Summary An Analysis of Major Characters Satan Adam Eve Chapter Summary and Analysis Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5 and 6 Book 7 Book 8 and 9 Book 10 Book 11 and 12 Symbols and Themes Quotes The Quiz Introduction John Milton was born in London on December 9, 1608. He was the son of a successful Protestant merchant, and was provided with an excellent education that included the opportunity to travel widely throughout Europe. He was fluent in a number of classical as well as modern languages, including Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, Spanish, Italian, French and Dutch. In 1625, he began his attendance at Cambridge University with the intention of becoming a clergyman in the Church of England, but was disillusioned by what he considered the arrogance and ignorance of his fellow students. He decided that his true calling was to serve God and his country as an author and poet. Inspired by Roman poets of antiquity, and particularly Virgil, Milton aspired to create a great epic poem in the English language. He considered two other distinctly British topics for his epic—the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and the military exploits of the general Oliver Cromwell—before settling on the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and their fall from God’s grace through disobedience. Milton was politically active throughout his life, and was outspoken...

Words: 15072 - Pages: 61

Free Essay

Paradise Lost

...story starts with Satan and his followers, who have been defeated in a war against God. They decide not to continue with open battle, and instead explore the new world and get revenge there. Satan alone volunteers for this mission, and so after Sin and Death unbar the gate of hell for him, Satan journeys across chaos and travels. God and his Son watch, the Son offering himself for salvation. Satan tricks his way into Eden, and taking the form of a comorant and a toad, he hears Adam an Eve, God's new creations, talking about God's commandments and the rules to not eat the forbidden fruit. Satan is discovered and banished from Eden. God sends Archangel Raphael to give food to Adam and Eve, and tell them about how Satan's jealousy led him to lead a rebellion, and how he was cast into hell. He also tells them how the world was created, and that mankind could rep;ace fallen angels. They talk about the nature of the universe and the condition of angels. Satan returns to earth and possesses a serpent. He convinces her to eat the forbidden fruit, and Adam eats it too. They lose their innocence and become aware of their nakedness, and start arguing. The Son of God comes and judge them, Sin and Death enter Earth, and Satan and his followers are turned into snakes. Archangel Michael is sent to expel Adam and Eve from Paradise, and he tells them about the future, and the events which will follow now they have sinned for the first time, and the salvation of mankind as the Son sacrifices himself...

Words: 485 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Temptation

...Katelyn Harrison New Testament Steve MacArthur 1 April 2013 The Temptation When I realized what the assignment for this first paper was I was actually very excited. I love the temptations of Jesus it he Bible. I believe it shows such strength, courage, and trust in God. Jesus in the Temptation of his shows how we can follow God even in the hardest of times. Temptations are always present in every aspect of life and these passages help us to use them to our advantage when we all face temptation as well. Something I have not done until this class is really delve into the word of God in the way I did for this assignment. Comparing and contrasting the passages, in each book of the Bible, learning to comprehend the different meanings between the books. The differences and similarities between the books stand out in some ways and in other ways are very hidden. This is the part that I enjoyed were I was able to dig into the Bible and not just see it as a religious text but also a history text. Similarities between Matthew and Luke are most apparent. In Matthew and Luke they both have the same accounts of the temptations of Jesus. In these two books they both mention that Jesus was tempted for 40 days. The literal meaning of 40 days is not so true. In many times the Bible mentions about 40 days, 40 nights, and 40 years, so it is seen as a very long time not necessarily exactly 40 days. Matthew and Luke also mention that the angels took care of Jesus. Mark was not so similar...

Words: 920 - Pages: 4