Question:

In 250-300 words write your responds to the story ‘A Family’ by Guy de Maupassant.
Write about ONE character you like or dislike in the story. Why do you like/dislike him or her?
Justify with evidence from the story.

In my opinion, the character I dislike in the story ‘A Family’ by Guy de Maupassant would
be Simon radevin. The reason why I dislike the character is because he always controls his
grandfather in- law especially when it comes to food. He was also being rude to the old man
when he did not give him any more food to eat. For example, in the story, George chimed in and
said to give the old man a little more of the sweet creamed rice but Simon declined. He said that
it would harm him, especially in his old age.
Other than that, Simon also showed how he was not respecting an elderly when there
was a guest in the house. Simon did not raise his children well because all of them made the old
man a laughing stock. The children laughed at the old man when his request for more food was
neglected that made him cry. Based on the story, they pretended not to give the old man
anymore food. The children just laughed when he began to cry and trembled violently.
Furthermore, Simon not only showed his disrespect for an elderly but he also did not
show any respect for his friend as a guest in his house. The way Simon and his family behaved
when there was a guest in the house was not pleasing, which made George, the guest, feel sad.
Based on the story, after dinner, George and Simon played some cards but felt low-spirited. He
felt that the old man deserve to live his life to the fullest and fulfilled his pleasure.