The Father-Thing (5)

Philip K. Dick's short story, "The Father-Thing," is very interesting in the point that it is written in the point of view of a child unlike all the other readings that we have read this quarter. Right from the beginning of this story we notice that there is tension between Charles and his father. Charles has come to believe that an alien like species has eaten his real father and this "Father-Thing" is nothing but a replica pretending to be like him (103). Thus, Charles not knowing what to do runs to a neighborhood bully's house in order to obtain some back up in killing all these alien like creatures. Noticing that having just the two of them isn't enough, Charles further recruits Bobby Daniels, who supposedly specializes in finding things. Thus, the three of them set off to go kill all these metallic bug like creatures. From all this information I obtained while reading this story, I couldn't help but feel as though this was all in Charles' head. It appears to me that this just another scenario of kids just being kids. For, it seemed as though Charles, Peretti (the bully), and Bobby are suppose to be the superheros of the story that saves everyone from the enemy that is trying to take over the human race from the scenario that they made up. The important point to keep in mind is that all three of these boys are children, their age ranging between nine and fourteen, thus it wouldn't be hard to believe that these events aren't something they made up, somewhat like playing house.