As children we are taught to trust and obey what our parents say because it is supposed to benefit us, but when your parents are addicted to drugs it can be difficult to trust them. In Ron Rash's story “The Ascent” Jared learns a lot about himself and his family. When Jared realizes that his parents will never fix bad situations, he decides to take matters into his own hands, even if it means taking his own life. In "The Ascent" unlikely revelations occur due to the author's use of a naïve narrator, foreshadowing, and setting through imagery. The audience can tell that Jared is naive because he is simply a boy who doesn't understand everything the world throws at him. . When Jared imagines Lyndee Starnes, a girl in his class, walking through the woods with him, he finds a ring and plans to bring it to her. The author states, “Once he gave it to her, Lyndee would finally like it, and it would be true” (282). Jared's imagination and his subsequent actions show that he is naive because Lyndee already told him that he smelled a few days before he found the ring, but he still intends for Lyndee to love him once he gives her the ring. The author states in the story: “There was a place behind, empty. Jared put the knife in his pocket, got into the back seat and closed the passenger door. Because it's so cold, that's why they don't stink much, he thought… He had been sitting in the back seat for two hours, even though it seemed like only a few minutes” [280-81]. If he had understood the idea of ​​death he wouldn't have been curious enough to get on the plane with the corpses, which makes him a naive kid. When Jared realizes that his parents are addicted to drugs and have no intention of changing ...... middle of paper ...... daughter. Rash states: “The glass pipe was lying on the table, next to four bags, two of which still contained the powder. There had never been more than one before” (283). Jared finally realizes that his parents will always find the money for drugs and that because of their addiction they will never be able to love him the way he wants to be loved. A naive narrator, foreshadowing, and setting conclude with the revelation that Jared had as a child. . Being young there is a lot that remains a mystery, but for Jared to be so young and understand that some things will never change is an amazing revelation. Rash's story teaches us a lesson about how being loved is important at any age and that being addicted to drugs is not the best way to raise a child. Works Cited Rash, Ron. “The Rise”. The best American short stories. 2010. Ed. Richard Russo and Heidi Pitlor. Boston: Mariner, 2010. 280-87. Press.