In "Under the Influence," Scott Russell Sanders reflects on the impact his alcoholic father had on his life and the ways in which he has struggled to break free from the cycle of addiction.
Sanders begins by describing his father's alcoholism and the chaos it brought to their family. He writes about the fear and shame he felt as a child, constantly worried about his father's next binge and the violent outbursts that often accompanied it. Despite his father's promises to stop drinking and the many attempts at rehabilitation, the cycle of addiction persisted.
As Sanders grew older, he began to understand the root causes of his father's addiction and the systemic issues that contributed to it. He writes about the societal and cultural forces that glorify and romanticize alcohol, as well as the impact of poverty and trauma on his father's addiction.
However, Sanders also recognizes that his father was not simply a victim of circumstance, but rather someone who made a series of choices that ultimately led to his own downfall. He writes about the ways in which his father's addiction affected not only his own life, but the lives of those around him, and the damage it caused to relationships.
Throughout the essay, Sanders grapples with the complex emotions of love, anger, and guilt towards his father. He writes about the challenges of forgiveness and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions.
Ultimately, Sanders writes about the power of resilience and the importance of breaking free from the cycle of addiction. He concludes by reflecting on the ways in which he has worked to heal from the trauma of his father's alcoholism and build a better life for himself and his own family.
"Under the Influence" is a poignant and powerful reflection on the impact of addiction on one's life and the ways in which we can work to overcome it. Sanders writes with honesty and vulnerability, offering a nuanced and complex portrayal of the challenges and consequences of addiction.
