In the short story “Tin Man” by Judy Budnitz, the theme of guilt tripping, specifically by familial obligation is mainly explored through dialogue, mainly from the people around the protagonist, Arnie. The protagonist’s aunts, Aunt Fran and Aunt Nina, expect him to give up his heart to save his mother’s life, which is quite the demand as it will have forever lasting consequences for the rest of his life, making him hesitate. Budnitz uses the aunts' dialogue "Your own flesh and blood" and "What kind of son are you?" (Budnitz, 1) to show how emotional manipulation is used to instill guilt in…