10 Questions, Topic, and Working Thesis

10 Questions

1. How does Hal’s past affect Cully’s future?
2. How does this relationship play into what happened with Willa?
3. How does Hal’s reaction to the rape affect Cully’s thoughts on the matter?
4. What internal struggle does Cully face that stems from his relationship with his father?
5. How does Cully influence Hal’s striving for success?
6. Are Hal and Cully helping each other or hindering each other in their own pursuits?
7. Why does Cully take Jose as a father figure over his own father?
8. How does Hal react to Jose?
9. How does Hal's reaction to Jose affect the relationship between Hal and Cully?
10. How does Cully mirror his father? How does he differ?

Topic

My essay will delve into the relationship between Cully and his father, Hal. It will analyze both the effects they have on each other as well as their general feelings towards one another. More specifically, I will talk about how they fall into each other's walks of life, and how they either help or hinder each other.

Working Thesis

In Friendswood by Rene Steinke, Cully is most influenced by his father, Hal. The relationship between a father and son is the most important relationship in a young man's life, especially in regards to the way he will act in his adult life.