Human Responses to Conflict
“Sunday in the Park” is a story about conflict and how people respond to it. It shows how a minor altercation can grow into something highly disturbing, reflecting on the nature and impact of conflict as a real-life and literary theme. The central conflict begins with a childish gesture: Throwing sand. The action is meaningless, which gestures to the fact that so many conflicts are caused by silly and banal things. Indeed, the “victim” does not even take notice of the sand until his mother points it out, also indicating that conflict is often manufactured in places where it need not actually exist.
The conflict grows as the first attempt to solve it (the mother’s warning) fails. Human beings, young and old, often do not respond well to warnings and corrections, even well-intentioned ones. In fact, they can turn stubborn and defiant, bent on repeating offenses merely because they are told not to, as the little boy does here.
What is more, the offending little boy seems to be growing up in an environment in which conflict is not curbed but rather encouraged. The boy’s father actually eggs him on, insisting upon his “right” to throw sand if he wants to, completely failing to recognize the right of the other boy to play in peace.
The man’s response to his son’s actions only escalates the conflict, which often happens in real life. People take offense, snap back, insist upon their rights, and raise minor difficulties to unnecessary levels. Eventually, the childish conflict takes on adult proportions as the two fathers face each other and violence looms.
Morton’s response to the growing animosity is to resort to reason. He tries to explain calmly and speak rationally. But the other man cares little for reason; he is ready to fight over a sandbox mishap. The difference between these two responses is extreme, and Morton, holding his temper, recognizes that a fight will do no good and turns away.
While Morton’s action ends the conflict with the man, it does not end his family’s response to the conflict. The incident has shaken all three of them. Morton spends the next few minutes trying to justify his choice while his wife attempts to figure out why her heart feels heavy, sensing that, in some way, her husband has let her down. Ignorant of the tension between his unhappy parents, Larry merely screams because he has to leave the sandbox. Their quiet, relaxing Sunday is ruined, not only by the original conflict but by their agitated feelings and lingering questions.
Soon the family is involved in another conflict—this time with each other. One conflict leads directly to another, especially when the first one is not satisfactorily resolved. Often, too, the next conflict is worse than the first, as is true for this family. Morton’s wife hears herself repeating the very insulting words the other man spoke. She challenges her husband, implying he is incapable of handling conflict and difficulties. While she may not completely mean it, she has opened the door to a much more painful, lingering animosity than a sand-throwing incident or near-fight with a stranger.
Family Roles and Expectations
“Sunday in the Park” showcases two families and an unpleasant encounter between them. As it does so, it reflects on family roles and expectations, some of which are hidden far beneath the surface until a conflict draws them to the fore. This, in turn, can be painful and even potentially destructive, especially when roles are not met and expectations are left unfulfilled.
The first family to appear in...
(This entire section contains 418 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
the story seems happy and peaceful. The child plays while the parents watch or read quietly. There is nothing to disturb them, and the mother basks in her enjoyment of the weather and her little family. Their roles and expectations seem set, unshakable, and comfortable. All is right with the world.
But a second family shakes things up. This father and son care little about anyone but themselves. The father encourages his son to lash out at another child and then lashes out himself when he is challenged. Their interactions reveal how a child imitates their parents and how they might be affected by their parents’ negative actions. The boy clearly has no idea how to respond to the woman’s gentle correction, and it seems that no one has ever corrected his bad behavior.
The woman is bewildered by this encounter with a family so different from her own. Yet she notices how her own little boy turns to her for guidance and how her response will affect her son. By the end of the story, the woman’s confidence in her family’s roles and the expectations she has taken for granted have been shattered, irreparably shaken by this singular encounter.
Morton, too, feels shaken, as if he has failed as the protector of his family. His wife feels let down. It does not matter that Morton could not have won the fight or that his response was logically correct. His choice to walk away upends his wife’s assurance of her husband’s leadership. Yet she, too, fails in her perceived role when she cannot—and does not want to—comfort Larry. Both parents, now so caught up in their own insecurities, fail to discipline their child and then blame each other.
Kaufman indicates that family roles and expectations are not nearly as secure as people think they are. Even a minor conflict can upset them and make family members question each other and themselves. The story breaks off without a resolution, leaving readers to wonder if this happy little family will ever be truly happy again.
