#8 Treadway's Trials

In the midst of Wayne's life and trials, it is easy to lose sight of the hardship it also causes his parents. Most specifically, it is easy to ignore Treadway's plight as Wayne's father. Not to say that Treadway suffers in the same way that his son does, but he is indeed attempting to survive his own private hell, as it were. Once again, as it was while reading “The Doll's House,” it is important to consider the environment and culture in which our male/father character is immersed. Treadway is a stereotypical macho male hunter. If your home and livelihood revolve around spending extended periods of time in the wilderness, if in that kind of isolated environment you are most at home, if that kind of lifestyle/personality is expected of you...I feel that the emotional maturity and capacity to deal with the situation of Wayne would be an exception, not the rule. In the little Canadian town, things are black and white—not shades of gray. Wayne's birth definitely falls under the latter category. Treadway is simply not equipped to deal with it in a way that may be more acceptable to most of Annabel's audience.

However, I'd like to argue that Treadway tries; he really tries to come to grips with a situation that he does not understand in the least. He wants to protect his child and family first and foremost; wants them to be normal so as not to draw negative attention. His perceived indifference to his son's and wife's feelings is his only defense mechanism. But how can we not see how hard he is trying to comprehend when he organizes the synchronized backhoe number for his son? Even when he was tearing down the bridge, I felt pity mixed in with my anger at his action—how confused he must be. I am not dismissing some of his actions, just trying to understand them and give Treadway the fair trial he deserves.

It is really nothing new; we often forget the father, his emotions, and his potential suffering. And often times they suffer in silence.