The Tattoo

6 Pages 1405 Words

Victory in Sacrifice
In the Tattoo, Chris McKinney shows the struggle to fight against societal influences, the “three suns of his life” (43): family-centric, peer-centric, and mate-centric. Desiring a life of stability and contentment, his family-centric and peer-centric environment lure him to their prison of pent up rage and anger. Although Ken is unable to break free from these influences, the author shows his protagonist’s power to change the shape of his future destiny through his child. Ken’s will and determination to not be the same “suns of influence” to his son shows a victory in his life. Although he will live a life devoid of any feeling, he will not be Koa or his father. He demonstrates the individual’s ability to break free from the prison of his societal environment.
. The first sun of influence is his parents. His mother plays small part of his life. Although she dies when he was six, she still nourishs him with the love and security she could offer him. Her love is the only protection from the viciousness of Ken’s father until Claudia comes. An example of this is when the father forced the son to touch the shark. “Touch it,’ he said. I shook my head violently and took a step back. . . He took step toward me. ‘Now touch it.’ . . Then I felt my father’s thick fingers wrap around my forearm. He squeezed hard and it hurt. . . As my mother got close, . . . she stepped toward my father. . . She responded with a vicious slap, which landed on my father’s left cheek. . . Mom stood her ground” (22-23). Her protection is the only safe haven Ken could rely upon. Through the books she leaves with him to the small deeds she does to protect him, Ken’s mom instills in Ken a glimpse of a happy lifestyle. However by the age of six, Ken’s mother dies, leaving only a small imprint on Ken’s mind. “When your mother dies and you’re six years old, there isn’t much ...