Family in the Contemporary Literature
Introduction
A family in a human social context is a group of people that share a common ancestral origin. A family has several common characteristics that include traditions, beliefs, language and culture. Every family has its dynamics that are unique and distinct to them, especially in problem-solving goal setting and relationship. Cultural identity is what primarily defines most family’s heritage. Cultural values have a significant impact in a family, and it influences the communication orientation, gender roles, conformity orientation and norms/beliefs. There are multiple cultures worldwide and have distinct values that define a family. The cultural beliefs and values are transferred from one generation to the next, but due to the emergence of education and religion in an integrated society have brought slight changes.
Therefore, today, many families globally are guided by their ancestral cultural values, but education and religion are only icing on a cake. The ultimate goal of a culture in a family guides the members on the accepted norms, beliefs, behaviour, and gender roles. Novel authors describe various societies based their family structures and gender roles which differ from one community to another. The following questions will be addressed in understanding the concept of family in contemporary literature.
- How is the importance of family culture portrayed in contemporary literature?
- What are the challenges associated with the family in contemporary literature?
- What are the assumptions about a family that is contradicted by the current society?
Importance of Family Culture
A family culture has values that are important in defining different communities, tribes or ethnic groups. The cultural values that include norms and beliefs are guidelines, and it has consequences if broken. For example, in the article We Need to Talk about Kevin, the author noted family disagreement as stated “…I often hate you too, Kevin” 44. The text is a statement from a mother to the child Kevin who failed to meet the mother’s cultural expectation. The author portrays the society having an unsympathetic mother, but most societies handle the issues differently, and forgiveness is possible and acceptable. Culture is always essential in solving family differences. The author also demonstrates a community of failed cultural values that helps in raising a child in the right and respectful way. According to the article author, Eva (mother) deserves a child of nature because of her unsympathetic character.
Besides, a family is a structure that put people together, sharing a similar vision and the same cultural values. A vision unites, gives focus and dominates the family conversations inspiring greatness. The family visions and culture helps in making conscious decisions because it helps in limiting the contradicting advises from different people outside the family. The article Maus is an example that explains how most family structure operates primarily in the scenario where a son seeks fathers advise and guidance, indicating how they share vision and trust. The second example is the article ‘We Need to Talk about Kevin’ that illustrates a failed family structure and objective because Kevin and the mother do not share a family vision. It is not always perfect to have a united family, especially in the current society, where freedom and rights are protected in the laws. The increase in cases of divorce also explains how some family visions at times changes.
In a family, cultural values bring people together, connecting one generation to the other. Culture is vital in bringing a son closer to a father and also a mother to her daughter. An example is the article Maus, where the author noted that “…my relationship with father as an adult consisted of interviewer and interviewee. We were at a permanent impasse, and I came as close as I could”. The author portrays the responsibility of a father to a son in the society in terms of providing advice and also guiding them. A son also considers a father a hero to him and interested in understanding better as the head of the family and understands his roles in his future family.
Challenges in a Contemporary Family
A family is an essential unit in society and faced several problems from the past and still exists until today. The main challenge is domestic violence that occurs between parents and also parent-children disagreements. Several factors contribute to violence in a family, and it includes poverty and violation of cultural norms. According to the article We Need to Talk about Kevin, the author explains the differences them the mother had with son Kevin. The author describes the challenges faced by mothers in raising their children through the text “I couldn’t have expected that simply forming an attachment to you…would be so much work”56. The past and some modern societies have dedicated most child-raising roles to the mother, and they carry the burden of the child fails to follow the right path. Currently, society has evolved and transformed, and the challenges of domestic violence are reducing significantly due to society exposure to religion and education.
Assumptions
Family is portrayed in contemporary literature as couples and children and at times includes the extended members including uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and grandparents is an assumption. In real life, a family is defined as having an individual that loves you unconditionally regardless of your shortcomings, and this comes after increased cases of divorce and single parenting. The article We Need to Talk about Kevin brings a picture of a complete family of both parents that might not be the case at times. According to the same article, the author also assumed that the mother plays the role of raising a child because both couples in most families take the responsibility of raising a child. In the case of single parenting, a father might take the responsibility of raising his child. It is an assumption for the article Maus author to describe a father to be a motivator and advisor to the son, making him aggressive and courageous. In the current society, single mothers are known to have raised courageous and learned sons. Foster kids are adopted in contemporary society, and most of them experience the love that biological parents fail to offer to their kids.
Conclusion
A family is an essential unit in a society, and it deserves a strong foundation in building a cooperative and robust community. Novel authors are responsible for highlighting the issues and nature of the society and at times, becomes challenging to accommodate the different family experiences and norms. Novels influence the readers’ perception of the community and at times, become misleading when many assumptions are incorporated. Family dynamics are changing drastically, and people understand their rights resulting in reduced cases of domestic violence that have been replaced by divorce.
Work Cited