Respect is a very dominant and important factor in the story of
Bernard Malamud, “A Summer’s Reading.” The reach for respect from the
people around him causes a lot of dilemma within the main character,
George Stoyonovic. And those dilemmas led to consequences that George
hated. George, a high school drop out, can not get any job during one
summer. He decides to read the magazines found at home. But when he
met Mr. Cattanzara, he immediately lies about the hundred books he is
reading, in order for Mr. Cattanzara to respect him as well as to be
proud of him.
Respect is a form of acknowledgement of one’s existence. Respect is
very important to everybody. Respect also gives a person a sense of
confidence that he is not a failure and contradicts the idea that he
is not good enough. People want respect because they want others to
know how good they are. Though everybody wants it, most people often
take it for granted. The irony of it all is that people wants it so
much that they would do anything just to get it.
In the story, the theme Respect is very important for everybody was
shown a couple of times. An example of these scenes is when George was
contemplating whether or not he should attend the night classes. “He
has considered registering in a night high school, only he did not
like the idea of teachers always telling him what to do. He felt that
they had not respected him.” He decides that since he has nothing to
do at home, attending night-class would be great and it would help him
catch up on the lessons he has missed. But that the idea of teachers
telling him what to do causes George to think twice. He thinks that
when his teachers tell him what to do or should not do it shows a lack
of respect on the teachers’ part. He then feels that he is not good
enough and loses confidence in himself. But in reality, when people
tell you what to do, it means that they are concerned about you and
that they know...