Innledning
When parents are unable or unwilling to meet the needs of a child, neglect occurs. While the majority of parents don't intend to harm or overlook their kids, frequent absences can impact their offspring.

Such children often struggle with social interactions, forging friendships, and making sound decisions. Téa Obreht's short story, "The Sentry" (2010), provides a deep dive into this theme.

The narrative follows Bojan, who grows up primarily under the care of a housekeeper, given his father's military commitments and the absence of his mother.

As a result, feelings of loneliness and isolation plague Bojan. This essay seeks to explore the influence of social heritage and environmental factors on our behavioral development, centering on Bojan's character and his relationship with his father.

Utdrag
The narrative delves into themes of dominance, aggression, and the profound impact of parental influence on a child's growth.

Bojan confronts this aggression not only from the world around him but intimately from his father: "Bojan instinctively sought refuge behind his father, who abruptly tugged him closer, forcing him to let the dog scent him."6

This moment captures the forceful nature of his father. Children raised in aggressive settings often exhibit a propensity towards violent behaviors themselves, a pattern manifesting in Bojan when he threatens Kaiser with unloaded firearms.

His father's demeanor, possibly scarred by wartime experiences, is reflected as: "His father's blue eyes bore a distant, vacant look that seemed to pierce right through you."7

This vacant gaze hints at underlying trauma. Such details underscore the detrimental effects of familial legacy on a child's actions.

Téa Obreht's "The Sentry" primarily conveys the idea that neglect, coupled with the lack of parental guidance, can catalyze unconventional behavior.

Over the span when his father and their new dog, Kaiser, return from war duties, Bojan's behavior noticeably shifts.