Discussion Topic

Analysis of Schatz's character in "A Day's Wait."

Summary:

Schatz is a young boy who demonstrates bravery and stoicism when he mistakenly believes he is dying due to a misunderstanding about temperature scales. His quiet suffering and determination not to show fear or distress reveal his courage and sensitivity, highlighting his deep concern for his father's feelings and his desire to face his perceived fate with dignity.

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Analyze Schatz's character in the story "A Day's Wait."

In "A Day's Wait," Schatz is portrayed as a brave, noble, sensitive, self-sacrificing character.

Hemingway's story describes a misunderstanding in which Schatz believes he has a dangerously high temperature, and is going to die. This is because he does not understand the difference between Fahrenheit and Centigrade. Although the story is told from the perspective of the boy's father, Hemingway takes the boy's plight seriously. He believes that he is going to die, and the way in which he reacts to this reveals the depth of his character.

Schatz senses his father's discomfort, and tells him that he does not have to stay in the room if it makes him uncomfortable. Later, he refuses to let anyone come into his room in case they catch the illness he has. These actions reveal his sensitivity and capacity for self-sacrifice, as well as his courage. The fact that he only...

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asks his father about his impending death at the very end of the story shows how brave he has been. His nervous reaction when he realizes that he is not going to die indicates the mental strain with which he has been struggling for many hours.

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