Saturday, February 12, 2011

In "A Cap for Steve" by Morley Callaghan, what does the cap itself symbolize?

"A Cap for Steve," is a sweet story about a boy's love of baseball.  Steve's world is dominated by his parents who do not understand his love of baseball.  Both adults seem sullen and worried all the time, Steve is the happiest in the family.  So as a happy kid, he falls in love with baseball and all the glamour that surrounds the major league players. 

One day, after a game as a large group of kids wait for the players, Steve is standing beyond the group and is approached by a player.  He expresses his admiration for both the player and the sport and is rewarded with the player's cap, which is too big for Steve.  It is a prize possession.  Dave, Steve's father does not understand why his son is so attached to the cap.  For Steve, the cap is a symbol of hope.  Steve holds a fascination for life because of his love for baseball. 

He, unlike his parents, who are realists, is dreaming of what could be, while his parents deal with what is.  Their lives are clearly difficult and they struggle to make ends meet.  For Steve, he escapes this gloomy picture of life through his hobby and the magical cap.    

"The cap is more than simply a prize to be contested. The cap was a link to a larger, more significant world, and perhaps a pledge of future glory."

When the cap is lost and Steve and his Dad try to get it back from a rich boy's family, it ends up being a wonderful moment for father and son to connect. 

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