Stop The Sun Theme

Accepting people for who they are might be difficult, but the least we could do is try to understand them. In the “Stop the Sun” by Gary Paulsen this is shown to us through the character of Terry Erickson. Terry is a thirteen year old boy whose father has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Terry 's father had fought in the Vietnam War and the PTSD he has causes him to have flashbacks of the war. Terry Struggles to find out the cause of his father’s disorder, therefore he is unable to accept him. The theme of the story “Stop the Sun” is that understanding brings acceptance and this is shown to the reader through Terry’s frustration, embarrassment and finally his understanding. The theme which is understanding brings acceptance is shown through Terry’s frustration. After asking his mother about his father’s PTSD, he was told it was because of the war, but Terry knew there was something else, something specific that had happened; “ But it bothered him whenever it happened. When something bothered him, he liked to stay with it until he understood it and he understood not part of this”(50). Terry was frustrated that he could not get information which could have helped him understand and finally accept his father. Terry gets bothered when his father’s eyes would go away and he believes if he understands what caused it he would be able to deal with it better. Terry really wants to accept his father and tries to understand in every way what his father might be feeling or what