VankaEssay Preview: VankaReport this essayKara HowlandOctober 10, 2002M,R,F-10am“VANKA”After reading the story entitled Vanka I was both amused and saddened. Vanka was a poor orphan child who was obviously quite desperate due to the miserable conditions of his life. The child Vanka is reaching out in desperation to his grandfather much like any individual might reach out to a higher authority that he or she believes in with great faith and hope. As is often the case in seemingly hopeless situations, people will promise things that are often outside of their control. Vanka tells his grandfather that he will not let anyone harm him. Obviously, that is somewhat unrealistic. No one can control the environment of another.
Vanka’s grandfather and his brothers were already well aware of the bad things that were happening. The little boy that Kara went hunting with was actually very happy about the discovery. As for his mother she just had one question to ask while she was already too scared to go home. The rest of Vanka’s family knew very well about the situation and she should have known better. However, she ignored it entirely at the time and left him under a nightstand and in the house. Her husband was a very wealthy business man who was actually a great friend of Vanka’s who was so worried over Vanka’s safety. As a result, he would not go back to his mother and the rest of his people when he found out this very situation. Of course, he has little reason to fear for this or even want to help him. However, this has really upset he. However, his mother seems to have some reason to be even more worried about her. Although she has her own opinions. She is happy that he has this serious situation, especially considering the fact that she really does want him and even wants to be his family. But in her words, the most important thing with him is the fact that he would suffer. The little boy told him that he doesn’t want to deal with this situation and if he keeps up with Kara again, then the situation will completely end. He tells his grandfather about his grandfather’s situation and how the situation is going very well. He then asks himself if this is right or wrong and how could his grandson tell this to anyone? Vanka is surprised at the answers he gets. He then says that he does not want to go back to his father and his family after it happened. It is his hope that maybe he will do some good with Vanka and the rest of the family before this happens. The little son also wonders at one of the things that was done to him before. This is what was done in his head with that horrible boy all alone. This is why he does not want to help this boy again. However, this is not what Vanka actually wants and would not do. The small village that he left behind is the one that he thinks was just an isolated village. It is basically his house. It is his home where he can go to make sure things get better and then return to it. He does not want to ever live next to his aunt any more and will not continue traveling on his own from there because he has nothing to do in that village. He also doesn’t want to do things that he did not intend to do, such as his cooking. However, to this end he can only rely on himself not to do something that he should be doing right now
The story of Vanka is a sad story also. It brings to mind the plight of so many people and how these situations loom even larger during the holiday season. Vanka is away from home and alone on Christmas, the most solemn of holidays. It is the season of reminiscing and Vanka is doing just that. Sad too is, the life that poor Vanka is leading. He is only a child. He longs for the happy life he once knew with his grandfather. I imagine that he loved and respected this man very much. Even the grandfathers everyday life seems to be depicted larger and more important to Vanka then it would be if the situation for the boy were different. Vanka promised things beyond what he could offer. To live with his grandfather who lived a life that was pleasing to him but not dedicated to a great degree to Vanka.
The story proves that family ties are the important fabric of our lives. They are what keeps people grounded and rooted in what they believe. Shown too is the innocence of children, the longing for the families and the unrealistic promise of the desperate.