Chapter for-elkana: For Elkana | Short Questions

The speaker chooses not to argue or dispute her comments, even though they are slightly critical of him. He acknowledges that she is 'always right' in a somewhat resigned or humorous way. Instead of engaging in a potential argument about his lack of handyman skills, he mentally retreats into a 'more attractive view' behind his eyes. This mental escape allows him to 'shut her out' momentarily to maintain his own peace, showing a common psychological tactic used to navigate minor domestic friction.

The seven-year-old son is described with vivid imagery that suggests confidence and intensity. He stands with his 'small legs well apart,' which is a pose of defiance and strength. His 'crescent-moon-like chin' is uplifted, and his eyes are 'hard and cold.' This description portrays the child not as a weak figure, but as one full of 'masterly determination.' It shows how children can be very serious and focused when they have a basic need, like hunger, making them appear almost like little commanders.

The 'unusual rapport' is a moment of sudden, unspoken agreement between the parents regarding their son’s behavior. They both realize that the child is being demanding and that 'Children Must be Disciplined.' In this moment, their previous subtle differences are forgotten as they unite in their role as parents. This shared thought represents the common front that parents often try to present when faced with a child’s stubbornness, highlighting how parenting can bridge the gap between individual perspectives in a marriage.

The child flatly rejects the mother's command. When she tells him to wait five minutes for dinner, he responds with a firm 'No.' He clarifies that he wants it 'not in five minutes, now.' He explains his stance with the simple, undeniable logic: 'I am hungry.' This reaction shows the child’s lack of interest in the adult concept of patience. To him, the physical sensation of hunger is an immediate crisis that requires an immediate solution, making the parents' attempts at discipline feel irrelevant.

The 'logic of the very young' refers to the straightforward, honest, and uncomplicated way children see the world. Unlike adults who worry about social norms, timing, or discipline, a child focuses on immediate needs and truths. In the poem, the son’s logic is that being hungry is a sufficient reason to eat immediately. This logic is powerful because it is hard to argue against; it exposes the parents' arbitrary rules (like waiting five minutes) as secondary to the fundamental human need for nourishment and care.

The poem ends with the family going inside for dinner, describing the meal as 'balanced.' This ending is significant because it restores order and harmony. The 'balance' refers not just to the nutritional value of the food, but to the emotional state of the family. The conflict has passed, the child is being fed, and the parents have moved past their minor irritations. It suggests that despite the daily small battles, the family remains a cohesive and functional unit, finding peace in the simple act of eating together.