Literary Analysis Essay on A Big True by Dina Nayeri

Introduction

The short story, "A Big True" by Dina Nayeri, illustrates how gaining empathy from those who share a similar mindset is easy. Still, challenges will occur when we are faced with individuals who have different opinions and values to ourselves, which can affect one's resilience, especially when those who are of opposing views are near and dear to you. The case is valid in the strained relationship between father and daughter Rahad and Yasmine. Rahad is a free spirit who loves music and enjoys living a simple life, which sometimes includes him having to give up his home to travel freely from one location to another and spend most of his time in YMCA accommodation rooms before moving to the next area. Rahad is an old man who is stuck in the past, where life was more enjoyable and successful than the present where he is unknown and unappreciated by the people whose affection and appreciation he needs, the most notable being his daughter Yasmine.

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Yasmine is a daughter of Iranian immigrants. She works hard to ensure that she gets to achieve the American dream that the country promises to anyone that works hard and dedicates themselves to success. Therefore, she works hard in her workplace and gains promotions and gainful employment. She is, therefore, not supportive of her father. He has refused to adapt to the American life, which according to her required them to let go of their fun activities and dreams and work in jobs that they do not enjoy, but enjoy the satisfaction of getting good pay with a promise of helping them stay as far away from poverty and the life they had run away from in Iran. Therefore, Yasmine lives a joyless and strict life and does not understand her father's lifestyle and life's decisions.

While Rahad looks for his daughter, whom he loves and seeks to enjoy a father-daughter moment, she ignores him since she feels that he is a disappointment and embarrassment to her. This can be seen in the opening scene of the narrative, where Rahad has to physically look for his daughter at home after she does not answer his phone calls and other efforts to communicate to her. Despite making the journey, Rahad does not find his daughter home and cannot know her whereabouts since she does not answer his calls. Instead of having a healthy father-daughter relationship, Rahad and his daughter are in constant disagreements and arguments over issues such as his lifestyle, the apparent obsession that he has for the past, refusing to move to the current times, and the needs that they present to those living in them. She compares him to other immigrants who have taken jobs and does not understand his free-living, which she sees as a useless waste of time by her father.

While Rahad has an easy time gaining the affection and approval of strangers, he still craves for his daughter's love and attention. The shared passion for music of the same genre and ideas towards life between Rahad and Wyatt, who also seems to be running away from the reality of his identity and history is the author's attempts to show the satire in the ability of Rahad to impress people he does not intend to while being unable to win over the love of his daughter. In the end, Rahad ends up being unable to have a cordial relationship with his daughter, yet his relationship with Wyatt grows without any struggles. While he is close with Wyatt, Rahad still feels lonely because only his daughter's love could fill.