Journal #2
Chapter #2
All throughout this chapter, the reader begins to realize the type of relationship that Asher and his father have developed. Asher seems to feel very distant from his father and they don't really know much about each other. They both have a better relationship with Asher's mother. They also seem to use Asher's father's job as the reason for such actions toward each other. I think that they both realize what is going on and what will happen if it continues, but they don't want to face it.
Asher doesn't understand why his father, not any other father, has to travel and do everything that the Rebbe asks him to do. This was definitely not a typical relationship that one would think of, but it could most certainly be better with a little effort. Asher's father is never around so he doesn't really know what Asher is all about.
There are also some very different ideas that are expressed throughout both personalities. Asher wants to paint, that is the only way that he has to express himself. However, his father doesn't approve of this, which makes them even more distant. Asher's father is a very strong believer in the Jewish religion, so anything that is going against that is going to be forbidden.
The feelings that the two of them have for each other are not very strong, but I don't think that they would be any better off if they had been close. Even though Asher does not want to admit that this really bothers him, I think that his mother knows how he feels. He is just a confused child who doesn't understand what his father is doing, but he doesn't seem to be first priority for his father either.