Insert Flap "A" and Throw Away

S. J. Perelman is an American writer known for his many humorous short stories. Insert Flap “A” and Throw Away is one about a father who is gradually becoming
more and more obsessive over the construction of his children’s toy. After much
hard work he turns to complete insanity before he can finish the job.

The short story teaches everyone about the importance of understanding the faults of gender roles. The father in the story cannot break away from the role he believes he has in his house. Being the “man of the house” he feels he has to prove to his kids he can complete any task. The readers get insight to his thoughts when the author writes, “I was determined to show them who was the master,” (189). With the mindset that a father should be “the master” he drives himself crazy trying to complete a task his wife earlier described as “simple,” (187).

Perelman uses diction to achieve his purpose by describing how the task was taking control of him. The readers find the father saying he “was on his hands and knees, bunting the infernal thing,” making the object being constructed a figure of hell for the man (189). At the end, the author writes, “as merciful blackness closed in,” implying that the father was more powerful and dark than black. The readers can see how much the father is affected by the role he believes he must play in his house.

The male gender role plays a huge part in Perelman’s short story Insert Flap “A” and Throw Away. There is a set of attitudes and behaviors a male is “supposed” to have. A man is stereotypically able to work all the science and math in every situation, do the construction and mechanics, and are in charge. In the story, the father believes that the societal norm is almost mandatory and the fact he can’t follow through with the appropriate role makes him go mad.

The stereotypical contrast between the female and male genders

Photo: Tumblr_nkapt2MT0m1uoe2hgo1_500. 2015. Tumblr, n.p.