cultural confusion

Balakian makes it clear early in his novel Black Dog of Fate that although his family is not considered "typical" by America's standards, they are also not a completely traditional Armenian family. Many cultural ties are severed by the death of Peter's grandmother, who grew up in a very Armenian family and taught Peter many of the Armenian words and customs that he knows. Peter describes his time with his grandmother as " access to some other world... some kind of energy that ran like an invisible force from this old country called Armenia to [his] world in New Jersey" (18). Peter's mother also represents a more Armenian side of the family, as Peter portrays his mother as someone who is very traditional and overall un-accepting of American culture: " 'The Americans,' or 'typical American' my mother would say... the phrase slapped me in the face... Weren't we Americans?" (57). Balakian identifies with his American surroundings, such as the culture of his American neighbors or the Yankee games, and is confused why his mother would consider their family un-American. Peter's father, however, seems more in tune with American culture through his support of Columbia University and their football team: "My father never entered the stadium without a program and saved every one... my father had no interest in the social part of Ivy League football... he seemed oblivious to all that, and privately I resented it" (74). Here Balakian seems to admire his father's commitment to football, a sport synonymous with American culture, however Peter "resents" the fact that his father is not like the other men at the game, engaging in social activities at the game like other Americans do. This contrast between the behaviors of Peter's mother, father, grandmother, and the other people surrounding Peter cause cultural confusion for Peter, forcing him to wonder if he identifies more as an Armenian or an American.

Peter vs. His dad

Peter Balakian struggled as an adolescent to find his cultural identity. He takes interest in the three main sports: football, basketball, and baseball. Peter becomes more introverted from his family, particularly his dad, during his teen years. He has a lot of fun with his friends, but his father thinks that he is not focused enough on his studies. “The more aloof, distant, and disapproving my father became, the more I thought of him as Armenian” (79). Peter thinks he knows what is best for himself, but his father disagrees and tries to forcefully intervene, leading to a lot of tension. This situation is a classic phenomenon in most households. Peter associates his father as Armenian because Peter does not associate himself as Armenian. The Armenian factor separates Peter and his father in Peter’s eyes.