The chain of dependency is innate in human society. As children grow, their attitudes and behaviors are modeled after those of their parents. This mutual growth supported the relationship between a child and his or her parent. In All the Light We Cannot See (hereinafter referred to as “the novel”), the influence of having and not having parents is evident in the lives of Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig, respectively. Despite the absence of Werner's biological parents, his basic needs for love and care are met by the orphanage's caregiver, Frau Elena. As proposed by David Suzuki in “Hidden Lessons” (hereinafter referred to as “The Sage”), the natural bond between a child and his parents surpasses the integrated relationship between society and his environment. As demonstrated in the novel, a parent's role is not limited by blood; rather, the relationship is nurtured through time and substantive interactions. This link is evidently present in the development of modern adolescents. Despite the independence that children gain with age, the Novel and Essay highlight the lasting effects that children experience through their relationship with their parents. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the essay, Suzuki emphasizes the importance of behaving cautiously around children. Subconsciously, children constantly model “the negative, unexpressed lessons [that parents] convey” (Suzuki 129). Likewise, Werner prioritized the importance of his own career due to the passing of his father. For fear of suffering the same fate as his father, Werner desperately tries to avoid the coal mines. This shows that parental influence can be transmitted through direct and indirect interactions. It should be emphasized that the father's influence persists beyond his physical presence. In part, the relationship was shaped by a reactionary progression. That is, the relationship develops based on how each party reacts to the other. Unfortunately, this issue is overlooked in the essay due to the emphasis on parental influence over mutual influence. Since Suzuki is specifically aimed at young children and their parents, the Essay does not take into account the independence that older children gain. Through developing independence, their thoughts become more personal. Likewise, Werner may have grown up without his biological parents, but his limited experience with them creates the foundation for his mindset. As he becomes more independent, Werner adapts to his relationship with his father rather than abandoning his past. The adaptive feature of a parent-child relationship allowed for mutual but independent development for both parties. Although Werner had lost his biological parents, the role was filled by Frau Elena after he was sent to an orphanage. Throughout his life Werner was always inspired by the words of Frau Elena. Despite the lack of consanguinity, his influence on Werner is substantial. Although Suzuki is primarily addressing parents, he begins the Essay with the recognition of “a world [that is] conceived, shaped, and dominated by people” (Suzuki 127). This statement implies that human societies are driven by interactions between individuals. Therefore, the group dynamics of humanity has imparted substantial qualities to every relationship in which each individual participates. Because of the unique characteristics of these relationships, it is appropriate to consider Frau Elena as a Werner parent, because guardians and adoptive parents can adequately fulfill the rolefundamental carried out by the parent. As a matter of fact, Werner acknowledges that Frau Elena is “as close to a mother as she will ever have” (Doerr 86). The emotional dependence that Werner feels is similar to the innate dependence that a child would feel towards his biological parent. Ultimately, these physical and emotional dependencies create the influential effects that are incumbent upon parents and guardians. Because of the immense influence parents have, Suzuki reminds his readers to think conscientiously and act accordingly. In the Essay there is a clear emphasis on being prudent and aware of the future consequences of one's actions. However, the parents in the novel rarely reflect on their actions. Marie-Laure's father, Daniel, reflects on his choices only before leaving her. In retrospect, there is always “the fear that he is not a good father” (Doerr 188). Because it can be difficult to predict the errors of one's actions, people are often dissuaded from acting beyond intuition. As Suzuki explains, the generational continuation of ignorance has threatened the environment and the potential survival of humanity. That is, the ideas of one generation can easily be passed on to the next if parents do not reflect on the merits of their decisions. Due to conformity, the parent-child relationship in a family can be influenced by traditional society. As demonstrated in the novel, Daniel may be able to question his actions in retrospect, but there is still uncertainty arising from existing circumstances. Due to the war and his duty to protect the Sea of Flames, Daniel is forced to abandon his duty of caring for Marie-Laure rather than the duty of his job. However, Daniel still recognizes his responsibility to protect Marie-Laure by entrusting her to Etienne, his great-uncle. Likewise, this duty of care is promoted in the Essay as a means of reminding parents that environmental pollution “has violated their home” (Suzuki 129). By making environmental issues more personal, Suzuki is able to convey his arguments to his readers. One of the main concerns regarding climate change is the sustainability of future generations. Although it is difficult for parents to be consistently cautious about their actions, the underlying principle of protection guided decision making in a parent-child relationship. However, the principle of protection conflicted with the multiple aspirations of each party. This is evident in the relationship between Werner and Frau Elena. Even though they want the best for each other, they still want to achieve their personal dreams and commitments. The difference is that Frau Elena wishes to continue caring for Werner, but he wishes to continue his studies. Interestingly, Werner's aspirations were strongly motivated by Frau Elena's encouragement. Indeed, Suzuki suggests that children's natural aspirations can be completely altered through parental involvement. Although “all scientists were fascinated by nature as children,” many of them are changed by the “hidden lessons” their parents give (Suzuki 128 - 129). Likewise, the passing of Werner's father also influenced his aspirations. Instead of inspiring Werner, his father indirectly warns him what to avoid. Due to the mutual but independent nature of the parent-child relationship, each party has their own interpretation of the relationship and how to contribute to it. Even though Werner's father is no longer with him, Werner still interprets his view of reality through memories of their past relationship. Due to mutual influence, personal aspirations merge into common goals and vice versa.Although Frau Elena was reluctant to let Werner leave, it is ultimately agreed that it is the most beneficial for Werner's future. Once again, the protection principle prioritizes the child's long-term happiness. The compromise process shaped the aspirations of each party while maintaining satisfaction between them. Finally recognizing Werner as self-sufficient, Frau Elena accepts that she has fulfilled her duty of care to Werner. Indeed, the adaptation of personal aspirations helps to solve problemsrelation to a state of mutual happiness. However, mutual happiness is not eternal and when it is lost, the desire for the status quo is created. Since Marie-Laure and Daniel were happy with their life in Paris, they are shocked to flee from it. During their stay in Paris, Marie-Laure "assumed that she would live with her father in Paris for the rest of her life"; therefore he aspires to nothing more (Doerr 72). It is until they escape Paris that they aspire to a status quo in their lives. This suggests that mutual happiness allows for personal happiness, and if removed, their personal aspirations become a demand for nostalgia. For the child the relationship outlines an ideal standard of life. When Werner loses his father, he tries to convince himself that eventually his "father might be dragging his feet out of the elevators" (Doerr 86). Mainly Werner tries to help his sister Jutta accept that what happened happened. Both Werner and Jutta have difficulty accepting a reality without their biological family. Likewise, Marie-Laure is desperate over Daniel's disappearance. In both situations, the loss of a parent has a negative effect on the child. However, an important stage of the parent-child relationship is acceptance of the reality of death. Even though death is part of the cycle, it does not mean any loss of the value of the relationship nor the amount of influence it had on the child. Instead, these obstacles evoke each party to appreciate and desire the pleasant memories of their relationship. While Suzuki highlights the negative influence of parental involvement, the novel highlights the encouraging and inspiring influence that parents provide. As a matter of fact, Suzuki recognizes that “efforts to teach children to love and respect other life forms are priceless” (Suzuki 129). That is, negative behaviors can only be avoided and corrected through positive parental involvement. There is little doubt about the impact that parenting can have, but there is much debate about which parenting style is most effective. Terms such as “helicopter” and “free-range” parenting are used to classify the level of parental involvement. Helicopter parenting is described as overprotective; while free-range parenting is described as neglectful (Sauriol). Arguably, Marie-Laure is raised by a helicopter parent and Werner is raised by a free-range parent. According to Suzuki, it's not a question of the level of parental involvement; instead, they are the implications that are transmitted to the child. As stated by Sauriol, balance is the most important part in parenting. While Daniel is a protective father, Marie-Laure is more confident and independent than the stereotypical media suggests. Of course the question of parenting style is based on the compromise between the child and his parent. As for Marie-Laure, it is natural that Daniel is worried due to her blindness. Likewise, Marie-Laure accepts and appreciates the level of care provided to her. In accordance with the protection principle, all forms of parenting are in the best interests of the child. The question is whether the parent has a healthy interpretation of.
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