Analysis Of Anita Shreve's Rescue

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Introduction
Anita Shreve’s “Rescue” is about the emotional and physical trauma between parents and children. A delicate and interesting novel explores the life of the Webster and Sheila, as they are trying to realize their past and begin again. Anita Shreve is a best-selling author who has followed a simple style in the novel “Rescue” that is straightforward and concise that has no confusing points of view or complex flashbacks (Bukowsky, 1). She has portrayed her characters in a way that are insightful that has never failed to take the readers into it, especially the character of Peter Webster. “Rescue” is a touching story of a down-to-earth small-town hero, Webster, who brings misfortune to his life through a drunk driver, Sheila, but he never fails to take responsibility. Webster is portrayed as a dedicated father and hard working breadwinner. He meets his fate in the name of Sheila whom he rescued from an accident and attracted toward her physical beauty. He falls in a situation where he has to grow his daughter, Rowan, alone when his wife leaves him for years. Even though he always regrets for marrying Sheila as a wrong choice, he never regrets of his daughter’s birth. He proves himself as a father who cares about his daughter alone and loves her most. However, it does not mean he hates his wife; he loves her too, but he cannot stop her from her alcoholism that keeps her away from him and Rowan. Through his character and life, Shreve has offered an insight that proves love should be accompanied by communication, true concern, and respect.
Webster, as a Father
When his wife and Rowan’s mother, Sheila leaves him, Webster has to take care of his teenage daughter alone. Webster likes his daughter’s face and admires her eyes, m...

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...nd cares his family, as he wants to rectify his mistake of selecting Sheila as his life partner by raising his daughter in a good way. At a certain stage, he cannot take care of Rowan completely. That makes him to suspect himself whether he is good father to a teenage girl. This very thought makes him to bring back Sheila for the rescue of his family and hope. Webster was a rookie paramedic when he rescued Sheila that he feels ruined his life. He rescued Sheila and lost his life, but now he wants Sheila to bring back his life by saving the life of their daughter, Rowan.
Conclusion
The novel “Rescue” is about loving father and sincere family man. His dream about his baby when she was in the womb proves his care and love for his family: “A baby. Settling down. Maybe a place of their own. And he’d be with her every step of the way. As much as he could” (Shreve, 38).

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