Morris Lurie's Pride and Joy

Write about how one character from Morris Lurie’s Pride and Joy is

presented and how this character develops key concerns in the story.

Billy in Morris Lurie’s ‘Pride and Joy’ is initially presented as a 16

year old boy who literally lives his life in the footsteps of his

abusive, irresponsible, bohemian father, Ned Mathews. By the end of

the story Billy’s character has undergone a transformation to become

his own person; he has broken away from his father. This short story

is told in first person narrative by an anonymous narrator. This

narrator is a tourist on an island in the “Great Barrier Reef” who

tells his account of his encounter with millionaire Ned Mathews and

his son, Billy. Through his characterization of Billy, Morris Lurie

conveys themes of self realization, responsibility, judgment, and

parenting. This essay will show how Billy’s characterization develops

Morris Lurie’s themes.

Wealth, ownership, control and his desire for his father’s approval

shows how Lurie, through his characterization of Billy conveys his

theme of lifestyle choices. Ever since Billy and his father come to

the island they act like they own everything and everyone on it. When

they go to eat breakfast in the morning, Billy deals with the “very

pretty” waitress like she is a prostitute, “‘What’s ya name, honey? he

said ‘Why?’ said the girl. ‘I always like to know the names of the

girls I sleep with.” Lurie’s use of a colloquial language and

inappropriate language such as ‘honey’ and ‘sleep with’ during Billy’s

dialogue with a waitress show his desire to control a situation and to

please his father; “‘Easy, son’ said Mathews, but his face was beaming

with pride. Billy’s self-confident and commanding swagger, “He

[Billy...

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...e role model and a poor parent. Through Billy’s actions

Lurie also shows that Billy is not prepared to live the lifestyle of

his father. “The boy I noticed had to take a breath half way down.”

This quotations refers to the fact that Billy cannot drink all of the

beer in one “gulp” when his father can as proof that his father’s life

is not necessarily appropriate for him. This concern of Billy not

being suited for his father’s life is restated by the narrator when he

wonders, “How long can he last?”

Through Billy, Lurie is able to express his themes and concerns in an

interesting and realistic manner. The themes and concerns developed

in ‘Pride and Joy’ may appear to be very simple and obvious but that

by no means makes them less important. Themes such as self

realization, responsibility, judgment, and parenting are very

significant in everyone’s lives.