In “Powder,” Tobias Wolff offers a brief but effective portrait of a boy who is torn between his naturally cautious personality and his desire to trust his father and enjoy their time together. While each person will react differently to both characters, readers will note several contradictory elements. The author uses the device of first-person narration to allow the boy to offer a self-evaluation. In addition, the story includes conversations between father and son that shed light on what the father thinks about him. The boy is said to be a methodical person who plans ahead. Although he becomes nervous in the dangerous situation in which his father places them, he does manage to relax and live in the moment, even though he knows their trip may not end well.

The boy’s description of his father and their discussion of the mother’s attitudes and actions make it seem likely that the boy’s personality is more like that of his mother. He is aware that his father’s irresponsible behavior is a reason that his parents are splitting up. However, he values his relationship with the more spontaneous, creative parent. The element of trust, which he mentions in the last paragraph, becomes the most important factor.