An American Childhood

In the selection from An American Childhood, how does the narrator finally get the microscope she wants?

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The narrator first becomes interested in microscopes after her father takes her to a demonstration at a science fair. She becomes obsessed with the idea of owning one and spends all her savings and allowance money on a cheap plastic model. However, the microscope is disappointing and does not work well.

The narrator then discovers a high-quality microscope in a store window and becomes determined to own it. She saves up all her money and eventually has enough to purchase it. However, when she goes to the store, she discovers that it has been sold. The disappointment of not being able to own the microscope only intensifies her desire for it.

One day, while walking with her father, they come across a yard sale where the narrator discovers the microscope she has been longing for. The price is more than she can afford, but her father offers to lend her the remaining money. The narrator is ecstatic to finally own the microscope of her dreams.

In conclusion, the narrator finally acquires the microscope she wants by saving up all her money, searching for it in stores, and ultimately finding it at a yard sale with the help of her father's loan. Her determination and passion for science drive her to pursue her goal despite setbacks and obstacles along the way.

Source(s)

An American Childhood is a memoir written by Annie Dillard, which explores her childhood experiences and memories growing up in Pittsburgh during the 1950s. In the selection, the narrator expresses her desire to own a microscope and her eventual journey to acquiring one.