Essay for "Ashes"

Many people have a hard time keeping up with relationships can be difficult at times. And if you are the girl from "Ashes" by Susan Beth Pfeffer, that fact is established throughout your life. Ashes' parents are divorced and she has trouble deciding who she is closer to: the mother or the father. Throughout her relationships with her parents, the reader is shown that relationships are demanding and deceptive, especially if they are with people you love.

  Ashes' relationship with her dad may be important to her, but it doesn't feel sincere or real at all to the reader. Her dad once said that he was a dreamer in the story. But he never keep his promises to Ashes. Ashes states that "When I was little, Dad used to promise me the stars for a necklace, but like most of his promises, that one never happened." She is clearly stating that he never acts on his promises and never keeps his promises to her. This already gives the reader an idea that her dad cannot be relied to keep any of his promises. Another thing about the relationship with the dad is that it's not sincere. Her dad manipulated Ashes to get money from her mother. His technique is honeying Ashes. "'You're one in a million,' he said. 'The best daughter a man could dream of.'" This is an example of how he uses Ashes to get the money. He thinks that he can manipulate his daughter to do what he wants. Throughout Ashes' relationship with her father, the reader is introduced to the idea that relationships can be complicated, heartbreaking, and built on a foundation of lies, especially with people you love.

  While her dad's relationship with her actually makes her happy, Ashes' relationship with her mother is restrained by the fact that she does not really take the time to get acquainted with Ashes. The mom is always prepared for anything that could come her way. Her mom calls her by her real name, and she doesn't even like it; and she hates Ashes' nickname. "'You just call her that to annoy me!' mom yelled." Her mom doesn't like either of her daughter's names. It might not be easy for Ashes, having a mom who calls you a name she doesn't like. But the mom can still take care of her while her dad is unable to. But Ashes has no idea if her mom loves her the way her dad says he does.

  Ashes is stuck in the middle of two conflicting sides. Both relationships with her parents are forcing her to decide who she feels more passion towards. The dad or the mom? The mom does not really connect with Ashes and calls her by a name she does not like. Not only that, but she does not promise Ashes anything, simply saying "'I can't promise you that'." This shows how she can't promise Ashes what she wants. The dad on the other hand, is much more manipulative. He calls her "special" and the one in the million girl", even though he's lying about his feelings to get what he wants. I feel sorry for Ashes because she is blind and does not realize the father's deceptive game. The father's failures affected the mother, and that is the reason she never promises Ashes anything. Throughout the story, Ashes has to realize the affects her decisions will have on her relationships with her parents, and that is something she does not want to happen.

  While Ashes decides what path she is going to pursue, she has to overlook the consequences of her choices. Her story lets the reader know that relationships are deceptive and demanding, especially if those relationships are with people you love.