The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper.

Without a doubt violence contributes to profound effects on a society. More so, it affects
the family in various ways including separation as well as mental depression on family members. The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper.
Children are greatly placed at risk due to their young age and the effects of violence can be detrimental to their future. Nevertheless, the works of literature are a true representation of any
given society and they have extensively explored the issue of violence plus effects on a family.
Carver’s work ‘Popular Mechanics’ and Hemingway’s ‘Soldier’s Home’ present readers with
two interesting stories about families. In particular, they depict the nature of violence and its
impacts on a family. In addition, some of the dynamics leading to violence on a family are
exposed constant disagreements. All in all, the issue of violence is revealed and contrasted in
these stories. The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper.

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Thesis: This paper reveals the effects of violence on a family by exploring the theme of violence
in literature works by Carver ‘Popular Mechanics’ and Hemingway’s ‘Soldier’s Home’.
Hemingway’s work is particularly interesting because it reveals the profound effects
violence can have on a family. It revolves around a character named Krebs who has returned
home after being involved in war. As a young soldier, he finds it difficult to integrate back into
his family and fit the mold. He does not understand why his family requires him to conform and
after coming back home late than others, they question him. It is evident that as a result of being
engaged in violence during World War I, the young soldier’s relationship with family members
is broken to say the least. He appears to suffer from psychological problems including depression. This could be a contributing factor to his difficulties in understanding and
establishing a relationship with his family. In particular, his troubles with women reveal that the
young man has been affected by violence so much that he is likely to struggle in establishing his
own family. The young soldier seems to have lost everything during his time at war including his
ability to integrate back into his society. Hemingway explains that “the times so long back when
he had done the one thing …easily and naturally… now lost their cool, valuable quality and then
were lost themselves” (Hemingway 348). This phrase signifies that the young soldier possessed
valuable, natural qualities before being involved in violence. Inside him, he is almost empty
following the war and finds it challenging to belong to the society he finds himself. Altogether,
following the war, he has troubles with the family including his mum and dad. Similarly, the
theme of violence is explored extensively in Carver’s work. Carver presents us with a family
setting in which violence takes all various dimensions. In particular, domestic violence is placed
at a new level altogether. Carver summed up the issue by illustrating a wife and husband fighting
over who kept their baby. In the end, the parents are pulling the kid at its limbs and “in this
manner, the issue was decided” (Carver 125). Domestic violence in this family has taken its toll
and it is clear that frustration is almost turning to depression. The family is splitting up probably
because of domestic violence and a tussle emerges because each parent wants custody of the
baby. The separation and constant violence in the family is exposed throughout the story
including such phrases as “just get your things and get out … you’re not touching this baby…he
moved toward her …get away” (Carver 124). A clear message reading violence in this story is
that children are hurt when family engages in internal conflict. In Carver’s story, the baby is
actually hurt but we know that more damage is done as far as emotions are concerned. In
essence, the baby is witnessing violence firsthand and the likelihood of developing psychological problems later in life is high. Worth noting is that when children experience violence in their
family, they are likely to develop stress and thus affected. Similar to Hemingway’s work, the
couple finds it difficult to establish a proper, peaceful relationship and hence the constant
violence. Possibly, the couple has found out that they are unable to satisfy each other’s
expectations and similar to the soldier’s story they have decided to stay alone. Depression is also
evidenced in the two stories by the fact that the characters have withdrawn from their respective
families. In Hemingway’s story, the young man cannot fit the mold after being involved in war –
leave alone find a woman and establish a family of his own. Similarly, the couple in Carver’s
story has committed conflict as a matter of course to gain immediate or short-term resolution. The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper.
Most likely, they are depressed to such an extent that violence is considered an option or
solution. Such actions are some of the characteristics of depression. Finally, the two pieces of
literature reveal similarity in that love is difficult to establish and or sustain in family settings.

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Hemingway’s work illustrates the young man who does not know any kind of love after being
involved in war. He feels unloved and cannot love women around him either. Similarly in
Carver’s work, love has been lost and the couple engages in endless fights and eventually separation. The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper.
The two stories also contrast in exploring the theme of violence and its effects on a
family. This is probably due to author’s need to portray the impacts of conflict on respective
families. For instance, a contrast emerges in that Hemingway’s story presents a troubled family
member after being engaged in war as a soldier. His personal life is greatly affected as a result.
In contrast, violence and its impact on the family in Carver’s work are shown to contribute
directly to loss of love and eventual separation. Unlike Hemingway’s presentation of violence,
Carver’s work shows its readers that violence is happening in the family and greatly affecting other family members. Indeed, the kid is likely to be affected psychologically after experiencing
domestic violence. Also in contrast is that Hemingway’s characters are not involved in family
conflict. Rather, a member of family experiences violence during his duty as a soldier and
consequently this affects his family after he comes back from war. The intention for the author is
to show that external violence has profound effects of families. On the other hand, Carver’s
characters are shown to engage in physical violence and the child is not spared either. The author
probably intended his story to reveal the effects of internal violence on immediate family
members. The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper. Thus, the child is caught in between and the story ends with the parents arguing over
its custody. All in all, the stories portray the dark side of violence and its effects on a family.

Work cited

Hemingway, Ernest. Soldier's Home. The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 6th
Edition. Ed. Michael Meyer. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002. 152-57. Print.
Carver, Raymond. Popular mechanics. What we talk about when we talk about love. New York:
Randon, 1989. The Effects of Violence on Family Case Study Paper.