Bel Kaufman’s Sunday in the Park is a warm and funny story about family life. It’s a great read for anyone who wants to laugh and learn about what it means to be part of a family.
On Sunday, the focus shifts to Larry’s mother and father, who are enjoying a picnic while watching their son play in a sandbox. When another kid hurls sand at Larry, the tranquility of the scene is shattered. By his hefty father, the overweight youngster is encouraged to throw as much sand as he wants when urged not to toss sand by Larry’s mother.
Kaufman then focuses on the children’s game, which seems to be a metaphor for life. The children playing can be seen as different types of people who either cooperate or fight with each other. For example, the child who throws sand at Larry could be seen as someone who is always causing trouble.
The story ends with the family getting ready to go home and the father telling Larry to “be good.” This phrase is repeated again at the end of the story, foreshadowing that something bad is going to happen to Larry.
When Larry’s father, Morton, is confronted by the situation, he is intimidated by the large man’s physical presence and flees with his family. The wife despises her husband’s timidity. When he accuses her of not properly disciplining their son, she assaults him: “You and who else?” On Sunday at the park, Larry’s mother is happy when her husband and son get together. Her spouse, Morton, is described as being “city-pale”, which implies that he does not go outmuch.
When he does come out, he is so absorbed in his thoughts that he does not hear the birds or see the flowers. Morton’s wife tells him that he should take their son, Larry, to the park more often because it would do him good.
One Sunday, Morton takes Larry to the park and they have a good time together. However, when they get home, Larry’s mother criticizes her husband for not spending enough time with their son. She says that he should take Larry to the park every Sunday.
Morton agrees to do this and from then on, Sundays become special days for father and son. They go to the park and spend time together, talking and playing games. Bel Kaufman captures the special relationship between father and son in “Sunday in the Park.”
Kaufman also paints a picture of family life in general. The mother is the one who keeps the family together and she does so by showing her love for her husband and son. She is also the one who disciplines Larry. The father is the head of the household, but he is not as involved in his son’s life as the mother is. Morton is a good father, but he could be better.
Bel Kaufman’s “Sunday in the Park” is a touching story about family life. It shows the importance of fathers spending time with their sons and it also shows the love and dedication of mothers.
Larry is a young, improbable hero who accidentally discovers the magic of friendship. He’s small and weak physically, yet he has enormous amounts of bravery and confidence. Larry is afraid because of his glasses and because other kids at school bully him for being fat. His parents have attempted to teach him that it was not OK to be mean but he hasn’t had any luck with it. This man is passing on hatred to his son by telling him it’s OK to be a bully in public.
Kaufman is observing all of this and other people in the park while she is sitting on a bench. She sees how different everybody is and how they each occupy their own space. Some people are reading, some are playing with their children, and some are just sitting and enjoying the sun.
Kaufman thinks about her own family and how they would never come to the park on a Sunday. They would be too busy working or doing chores around the house. She wonders what it would be like to have a family that could just relax together in the park.
The fat man reads comics and Morton consumes periodicals, demonstrating their varying levels of knowledge and integrity. His wife senses that he is furious and gets out of her seat, but he does not halt himself. She wants him to stand up for what she feels is right inside her heart. Some average housewives would have stopped the fight; however, she did not because she wanted to witness how manly Morton was acting. When the guy stood in front of Bel Kaufman’s home, he banged on the door.
Mrs.Kaufman was not pleased to see him and she told him so. She did not want any trouble and just wanted him to leave. Sunday in the Park is a day for families to be together and have fun. Bel Kaufman’s husband had just ruined that for her.
The man left but said he would be back. A few days later, he came back with a big group of people and they were all carrying signs that said “For Sale” and “Moving Out.” The man had bought the building that Bel Kaufman lived in and was going to sell it. The whole community was against him but he did not care. He was going to do what he wanted.
Bel Kaufman’s husband had the man arrested but it did not stop him from selling the building. Bel Kaufman and her family were forced to move out. The man had won but Bel Kaufman’s family was not going to give up that easily. They fought back and eventually got the building back. This shows that even though bad things happen, you should never give up hope. Bel Kaufman’s story is an inspiration to us all.
Bel Kaufman’s Sunday in the Park is a heartwarming tale of family, love, and friendship. Told through the eyes of young Max, the story follows his adventures in the park with his friends and cousins. Max’s Uncle Joe is always there to lend a helping hand, and his Aunt Lizzy is always ready with a kind word or a hug.
But it’s Max’s grandparents who are the real stars of the show. They’re always up for a game of catch or a walk in the park, and they always have time for a chat. Sunday in the Park is a wonderful book for families to enjoy together. It’s sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
