Introduktion
Neglect manifests when parents are unable or unwilling to fulfill a child's needs. Typically, parents do not intentionally harm or neglect their children, but the absence of parental presence can profoundly impact a child.

This neglect can hinder a child's social development, ability to form friendships, and decision-making skills. Téa Obreht explores this theme in her 2010 short story "The Sentry," where the protagonist, Bojan, is raised primarily by a housekeeper due to his father's military service, and his mother's absence exacerbates his loneliness and isolation.

This prompts us to ponder how our social heritage and the environments we are raised in influence our behavioral development. In the following analytical essay, we will delve into Bojan's characterization and his relationship with his father.

Utdrag
The relationship between Bojan and his father is complex. Bojan's father, consistently absent due to his military service, is rarely seen engaging in meaningful interactions with his son. This absence underscores the recurring theme of a missing father figure in Bojan's life.

Despite their limited interaction, Bojan still holds his father in high regard and admires his military service: "Bojan could picture the two of them on sentry duty:

his father, tall and heavy-set, the dog growling like a rusted grate at his side while they performed maneuvers, or, in some of Bojan's more daring fantasies, searched for mines."

Bojan's idealized perception of his father serves as a substitute for the actual companionship he lacks. However, it becomes evident that his father's emotional distance takes a toll when, following a bullying incident, his father fails to provide the expected comfort and support. Instead, his father's reaction suggests disappointment and a desire for Bojan to toughen up.