Gaslighting and Peer Pressure from a victim’s point of view in “Tin Man”

In Tin Man, the author uses first person narration to convey a message on the power of gaslighting and peer pressure. The story opens with a rhetorical question from Arnie’s aunt Fran. “‘What kind of son are you ?’”, she asks (Budnitz 85). This is followed by more complaints and shaming in the same spirit towards Arnie which sets the mood for the story. It exposes the grim ambiance that Arnie was initially surrounded by. This is the atmosphere that leads him to fall prey to peer pressure. “But now it looks like I have to pay my debts with my heart instead. Under these circumstances, I don’t…