"Reunion": A Cause and Effect Analysis

Alcoholism can have a multitude of effects on those it afflicts. Some effects are very direct; others are not so obvious. In the short story “Reunion”, Charlie’s father is a man firm in the grasp of alcoholism, and as is typically the case, its effects ripple throughout all facets of his life.
Initially, Charlie is looking forward to seeing his father again. He even goes so far as to say he is “terribly happy to see him again.” He expounds upon his joy by commenting that he “hoped that someone would see [them] together” and “wished that [they] could be photographed.” He describes his father as “a big, good-looking man”, not as a drunk. In fact, Charlie has nothing negative to say about his father whatsoever. However, though he never utters an ill word regarding the man through the course of the story, Charlie states at the conclusion that the meeting recounted in the story was “the last timeâ�...