Jeannette’s swim lesson at the Hot Pot is a model for how her parents may come off as cruel, but they also have a genuine care for their children. Although Jeannette sees her Dad’s swimming lessons as cruel, underneath the brutality of the swim lesson Rex has a genuine care for her. Jeannette thinks that Rex’s teaching style about swimming is harsh. After Jeannette sank for the first time Rex pulled her to the side. Rex “picked her up and heaved [her]”(66) back into the middle of the Hot Pot. Jeannette thought this is mean because Rex is just throwing her into the middle of the Hot Pot and expecting her to learn how to swim on her own. Although Jeannette thought that her dad was brutal, she kept reaching out to him for help because she needed him for help. Rex “pulled [his hands] back”(66) when Jeannette reached out …show more content…
Finally, Jeannette realizes that Rex’s method is harsh and she “trie[s] to get away”(66) from him showing that she is recognizing that her dad is being mean and through this realization she starts to swim. Underneath the cruel method of teaching swimming, Rex genuinely cares for Jeannette. Rex’s genuine care for his children is masked by the brutality of his life teachings. For example when Rex pulls Jeannette out of the water he says, “it’s okay”(66) showing that he knows it is painful to learn how to swim this way, but Rex treats his children the way the world is going to treat them. Rex cares enough for Jeannette to take time out of his relaxing day at the Hot Pot to teach Jeannette how to swim. Finally, after Jeannette swims away from Rex, he gets out and tries “to hug [her]”(66),