Introduction
The protagonist in Kristiana Kahakauwila’s story “Portrait of a Good Parent” is a father attempting to navigate his cultural identity while trying to be a good parent. Against cultural expectations, the novel examines the themes of identity and parenting difficulties. This essay will examine the father’s personality qualities, responses to the outside environment, and problems he encounters via a character analysis of the parent.
Parental Qualities in Kahakauwila’s “Portrait of a Good Parent”
Balancing Cultural Expectations with Parental Duties
The father is presented as a man struggling to uphold the standards of his cultural identity while also striving to fulfill his obligations as a parent. He is required, for instance, to maintain the ideals of his Hawaiian ancestry while still supporting his family (Kahakauwila 126). He feels under pressure to put in long hours and cannot spend meaningful time with his children. The narrative makes this clear when he sends his daughter with her uncle rather than participating in his daughter’s school project.
Preserving Tradition While Embracing Change
The father is also shown as a man fighting against Western ideas to preserve his traditional identity. The narrative makes this clear when the father’s daughter informs him about the “father-daughter dance” when she gets home from school (Kahakauwila 132). The father first resists the notion since he does not understand it, but he eventually decides to go to the dance with his daughter.
This demonstrates that the father is open to trying new things to connect with his daughter, even if they go against his cultural expectations. It also emphasizes that the most excellent parents are those who are prepared to make an effort to comprehend and participate in their children’s lives. Parenting frequently demands establishing a balance between tradition and innovation.
Prioritizing Children’s Needs Over Personal Obligations
The father’s capacity to put his children’s needs before his own is a crucial character component. The story emphasizes this quality as the father brings his kid to the beach despite having a lot of work to accomplish. He prioritizes spending time with his daughter over his career, indicating his dedication to being an active and present dad (Kahakauwila 128). Furthermore, the father’s willingness to venture outside his comfort zone and participate in his daughter’s activities demonstrates that he respects the parent-child bond and is open to trying new things. The father’s capacity to prioritize his children’s needs and to be receptive to new experiences shows his commitment to them and his desire to be a good parent.
Demonstrating Growth Through Vulnerability and Accountability
Despite his imperfections, the father is shown to be a person who tries to be a good role model for his children. For instance, he is characterized as a man who, when irritated, is easily angered and punishes others physically. However, he accepts his faults and apologizes to his children when he learns he has overreacted (Kahakauwila 128). Despite his personal feelings and cultural expectations, the father attempts to be a good dad, illustrating that parenting issues are universal and need ongoing work and devotion. This demonstrates that the parent is trying to set a positive example for his children and educate them to accept responsibility for their actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kristiana Kahakauwila’s “Portrait of a Good Parent” examines the difficulties of fatherhood and cultural identity from the perspective of a Hawaiian father. Despite his imperfections, he is shown as a father who tries to be a good role model for his children. The narrative emphasizes cultural identity’s value while demonstrating the flexibility one can have in changing and adapting to new ideas and experiences.
Work Cited
Kahakauwila, Kristiana. This Is Paradise: Stories. Hogarth, 2013.