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Question 1: Do you agree that the spirit and beauty of childhood will diminish without the care of a nurturing adult? Discuss with reference to Man of the House by Frank O’Connor and The lumber Room by Saki.        

Childhood is a very important time where children would have the best time of their lives. In the story of Man of the House by Frank O’Connor and The Lumber Room by Saki portrays the spirit and beauty of childhood, and how it will be diminished without the care of a nurturing adult. The spirit and beauty of childhood lies in the freedom and innocence which children express. In the story of Man of the House, Sullivan lives in a tough environment yet received the love he suppose to have. Therefore, The Lumber Room shows that Nicholas is an adventurous and naughty child, who tries to rebel against his oppressive aunt by breaking into the lumber-room. The importance of emotional care by an adult leads to cognitive support in child development and a healthy environment.

A nurturing adult has a large impact in a children’s childhood, where good emotional care is essential in the growth of a child. Emotional wellbeing happens from feeling protected, sheltered and treasured. This wellbeing is important because it is all about a sense of belonging to them and frees them from exploring and learning. For instance, in the story of Man of the House, though Sullivan’s mother is ill and not being able to take care of him, Sullivan would take the responsibility to take care of his ailing mother which could hardly crawl out from the bed and asked his mother if she would want him to get the doctor. This shows that even if his mother is sick, Sullivan learned that during his childhood time the care contributed by his mother present how he suppose to return as a filial son. Thus, in the story of The Lumber Room, Nicholas is not taken care by a nurturing adult so he becomes cunning. For example, when he tricked his aunt for going into the gooseberry garden and Nicholas manoeuvre his way toward one of the garden doors, knowing that the aunt keep an eye on. This implies that children with an appropriate emotional care by a nurturing adult provide them the sense of family love.

Hence, aid in a child’s cognitive development deemed to be necessary. Children mind has been changing and growing rapidly, where they are also on a path on developing involved mind. In Man of the House, Sullivan does not realize he is being fooled to taste of the cough syrup, which is the only medicine to aid his mother, and he ran home crying realizing he was being used. This shows that despite playing the role as a man, his pure innocence still prevailed unintentionally. However, The Lumber Room, Nicholas insisted to get into the gooseberry garden and explore the lumber-room. The first sight when he gets into the lumber room, he was enlighten by a piece of framed tapestry and turned it to be a story about a hunter with a stag he has strike with an arrow. This implies that, Nicholas is very imaginative and creative child, which signify he has a huge interest on exploring new things. Nevertheless, both stories played the importance of cognitive support to a child. Without the cognitive development, children might not able to solve problem and think consciously. As an adult, giving them the support is mandatory as they are in the progress of growing and this reflects that they are more reliable to someone.