The Importance Of Silence In Dagoberto Gilb's 'Uncle Rock'

In a restaurant, picture a young boy enjoying breakfast with his mother. Then suddenly, the child’s gesture expresses how his life was good until “a man started changing it all” (285). This passage reflects how writer, Dagoberto Gilb, in his short story, “Uncle Rock,” sets a tone of displeasure in Erick’s character as he writes a story about the emotions of a child while experiencing his mother’s attempt to find a suitable husband who can provide for her, and who can become a father to him. Erick’s quiet demeanor serves to emphasis how children may express their feelings of disapproval. By communicating through his silence or gestures, Erick shows his disapproval towards the men in a relationship with his mother as he experiences them. Erick’s silence expresses disapproval of the many relationships involving his mother. Erick says nothing in several points of the story when “the men were around” communicating to the mother his feelings about these relationships (285). The writer signals how Erick resorts to silence when in the presence of the men. In fact, his silence becomes a form of protest to these men and their remarks, and as an acknowledgement of their intentions with her. For example, Erick maintains his silence when the mother’s date suggests taking Erick out with them sometime (285). By now, Erick is accustomed to the men making such remarks as a

There is a moment in the story where Erick receives a note from a baseball player and, before giving it to his mother, gets rid of the note. Instead of sharing what happens with the couple, Erick remains quiet. He simply denies one man from having a relationship with his mother and allows another man to continue being around them. This gesture expresses a form of acceptance to Uncle Rock and allows him to pursue a relationship with Erick’s