My Father's axe - how has the author challenged our perceptions and attitudes?

Tim Winton has challenged the reader’s perceptions and attitudes in a variety of different ways throughout his story “My father’s axe”. The reader is encouraged, at first, to think that the story is just about a missing axe, however, the story goes much deeper. We can also appreciate the cultural background that the story takes place in. “My father’s axe” refers to the complexity of the persona’s relationship with his father, and how time brings about different circumstances and role changes.

The story starts off with an idea of panic and questioning, “ Just now I discover the axe is gone. I look everywhere inside and outside the house, front and back, but it is gone”. We are introduced with the persona’s son Jamie and wife Elaine, and we are already aware of the roles in the family. Which is similar to the lifestyle that he grew up in during his childhood.

His family followed a simplistic, yet comfortable lifestyle, where they are each aware of their job...