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.