[How does Richard Powers' develop the relationship between the narrator and his father in this
extract?]
The extract from ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’ written by Richard Powers, describes the way in which a
child (the narrator) spends time star gazing with their father. Throughout, the passage explores
the complexity of relationships and paternity, they realise that their father loses his presence in
their lives. The writer develops the relationship between the narrator and his father; the use of
imagery, language and structure create a distinctive and jarring tone, which becomes more
detailed as the narrator matures. The narrator comes to realise that his innocence can longer fulfil
his desires and develops an indifference to the idle nature of his father.
Powers introduces the relationship between the narrator and his father with an ominous tone,
which highlights the naivety of the child. At the beginning of the extract, the children are all
lying next to their father on the ground and are looking up at the stars, but the location is unclear,
‘Somewhere, my father is teaching us the names of the constellations.’. The reader is instantly
met by a sense of ambiguity, the use of the adverb ‘somewhere’ portrays that the narrator cannot
recognise where he is, and that they are isolated from reality. Hence, the relationship between the
child and his father is disconnected. As the father teaches the children about his knowledge of
constellations, the author presents what seems fantastical as factual, ‘all in front of us spread the
illustrated textbook of the winter sky’, the use of the simile conveys that the narrator is aware of
his father’s expertise. It elevates the contrast in their relationship, the innocence of the child is
suppressed by the father’s rigid nature; constellations aren’t creative, but are treated
formulaically. The use of winter themes allows the reader to create a severe and cold
atmosphere, in which the interaction between the children and their father is in a state of solitude.
The narrator expresses hope that their imagination will be reciprocated by his father, but this is
left unfulfilled. When the father responds to the narrator's questions, it is clear that the children
remain confused, ‘He talks to us only in riddles’, the use of the pronoun ‘he’ is used constantly in
this section of the passage, as if the narrator does not wish to identify his father. The
communication between the children and the father is unclear, which is jarring and ominous.
In the middle of the passage, Powers portrays that the narrator is constantly trying to understand
the father, which presents a flawed relationship. When the narrator starts to learn about the
features of the sky, he begins to realise that he must understand constellations to be able to
maintain their relationship, ‘... learning to see Taurus and Leo as if our survival depends on it’,
the use of the simile shows that understanding what their father talks about is not only important
but can be detrimental. The bond between the child and his father relies on their ability to
comprehend and can be lost. It is clear that the father is a static character, whereas the narrator is
multifaceted; the father remains distant and apathetic whilst the children are constantly seeking
to understand him.
Towards the end of the extract, the narrator reaches a sense of realisation which is pessimistic;
the father and the child will never be able to understand one another. The father reveals his true
self for a short period of time, which is comforting to the narrator, ‘a final glimpse of that closet
romantic he will keep so perfectly hidden in later year’, the use of the metaphor is significant, as
the closet represents concealing his true identity and shutting away his children. The narrator is
relieved at this point, but is aware that it is temporary, his father’s lack of emotion is pervasive.
This allows the reader to interpret a more distinct sense of hopelessness in the last section, the
father is trapped in isolation, ‘He has already left us. He is no longer warm.’, the short, simple
sentences are jarring and build tension. Powers portrays a finality, and uses the motif of warmth
as a way to represent emotion. Therefore, it expresses an acceptance to his fathers idle state in a
solemn tone, the relationship between the father and the narrator is no longer existent.
Powers provides a relevant commentary on the hardships of relationships between a father and
his children. Society has often expected paternal figures to conform to ideals of masculinity,
which in some cases has created dysfunctional family dynamics. The motifs of the cold and
isolation make it clear that the father is emotionally distant and the children over time realise that
their father will not clear their doubts about the world. The reader slowly begins to realise that
the father has become invisible and that the narrator is left questioning the truth.