Misconception In A Days Wait By Ernest Hemingway - 786 Words

A misconception is the key theme of Ernest Hemingway’s short story, â€Å"A Day’s Wait†, as a young boy awaits his death and a disconnected father who is completely oblivious to his sons emotions, struggle to communicate. This very realistic short story was written by Hemingway after his son became ill and feared the worst. It supports the idea that a simple misunderstanding can lead to anxiety and concern without reason. Schatz is a regular 9-year-old boy who suddenly becomes ill with influenza, as most kids do. He overhears the doctor telling his father that the boy’s temperature is One hundred and two. As he lays in his bed resting, Schatz becomes highly consumed with worry and becomes somewhat disengaged from the rest of the world†¦show more content†¦The quail is a symbol that represents life and death, â€Å"I killed two, missed five, and started back pleased to have found a covey close to the house and happy there were so many left to find on another day.† Imagine his surprise upon his return when the son asks, â€Å"About how long will it be before I die?. The father is taken back by such an erroneous statement from his little boy and assures him by responding You arent going to die. Whats the matter with you?. It is at that very moment that the reader recognizes that it has all been a very large misinterpretation of events. It is crucial to understand that father and son were never on the same page. When his father tells him to â€Å"take it easy† and that It ´s nothing to worry about, he is simply referring to the fever. Poor Schatz thinks that his father is telling him to take dying easy so he responds with, I am taking it easy. The innocence of the child is exemplified through the story. He never spoke of dying until the end because he did not want others to worry about him. He held back his fears and his feelings so that he would not hurt others. After clearing up the misunderstanding, the young boy is able to relax and occupies the next day crying for the most insignificant things. A big weight was lifted off of his shoulders and he was able to act as a kid should, vulnerable and reliant on those he loves most. As difficult as it