What does McGahern’s writing make you feel about the son as you read

The Stoat? Support your ideas with details from the story.

The Stoat by McGahern is a short story which is republished ,the main

theme of the story is selfishness ,honesty ,fear and rejection . The story is
narrated in third person .It is about how the protagonist’s father an
opportunist uses the situation to cut his relations with his future companion
when she suffers a heart attack .This incidence brings out the son’s
character in the story.

McGahern writing in the story ‘Stoat’ involved a relationship between a

father and son
As we all know that the father was widower and was lonely and looking
for a companionship .He asked his son about the same making sure that he
was comfortable to it , ‘I was afraid you might be affronted by the idea of
another woman holding the position of your dear mother held’ .The
response the son gave showed that he was a mature man who understands
his father’s emotions and making it clear that its his life and he can make
his own decisions which satisfy him . ‘That’s ridiculous ,I think you should
do exactly what you want to do .It is your life’ this statement shows that he
does not have a warm relationship with his father and shows that they have
two separate lives whereas in most of the cases father and son have the
same life making each others decisions and getting involved in each others
affair but here the situation is different and the son is giving space to his
father to lead his life .

Moreover the son believed in having cordial relations with his family
especially the uncle .The protagonist did share the same occupation with
his uncle but had a lot to talk to.He just completed what his father could
not ,he was understanding , ‘uncle encouraged him against his father in his
choice of medicine and his father wished him to see him in bank’ this
shows that how his uncle knew about his interests better that his
father .The son also spend more time with his uncle doing his interest of
work such as playing golf at the links and drinking at the grand central
rather than being with his dad .

The meeting of Miss McCabe and protagonist’s father clearly gave the
readers the personality of the son .This incident also gave that the son
was of broader horizon and open mind as he says ‘Miss McCabe is a fine
person’.He was not at all judgemental ,he did not want to force his opinion
on his father.

The father over here symbolises a stoat who kills one relationship and goes
out for another hunt ,but the son is seen as a mature ,understanding person
who knows how to maintain strong relationships with his family and
friends .