Becoming “Agreeable” without any support
The word “negligence” means a failure to exercise proper or normal care expected of a reasonably person in like circumstances of something or someone, it is marked by a carelessly easy manner. Some people having important responsibilities are reckless of their action’s consequences. In “Agreeable”, Jonathan Franzen illustrates through characterization how suffering children with negligent parents put their energy in something positive to push their own limits and encourage themselves. Through Patty’s character the author described how adult’s involving and responsibilities are important in children life. He also illustrates how parents can be either subjugated by their work, either treat everyone coldly as nobody. In our society, every single person’s first influence is their parents. Having children involves responsibilities and involvement. As people who have the power to create life, they have the duty to build their child’s character and teach values. In “Agreeable” however, Patty finds another inspiration source. “They [school athletic programs] basically saved her life and gave her a chance to realize herself as a person. […] It was from these wonderful coaches that Patty learned discipline, patience, focus, teamwork, and the ideals of good sportsmanship that helped make up for her morbid competitiveness and low self-esteem” (Franzen 43). Parents are supposed to be the major support for a child to help them psychologically grow until they are autonomous enough to live by themselves. Patty learns to count only on herself early because “Joyce was always driving Patty’s siblings […]. Most weekday she [Patty] came home very late on the jock bus. She knew not to bother calling her parents” (Franzen 52). Patty is always by herself since Joyce favoured her siblings; it leads Patty to an early maturity and a sense of