Final answer:
The stick sculptures in 'Sticks' by George Saunders symbolize the father's desire for control and order, the family dynamics, and the impermanent nature of life. They exemplify the father's emotional responses to occasions and his attempt to maintain authority, becoming a motif for his character and the overall family experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
In George Saunders' short story 'Sticks,' the stick sculptures symbolize the complexity and rigidity in the dynamics of the protagonist's family life. These sculptures, which are constantly changed by the father, could represent his attempt to exert control or maintain order, reflecting his undying need for stability and structure—traits that might also describe his desires for his family's dynamic. The changes in the sculptures particularly during holidays and other occasions further suggest the father's emotional responses or lack thereof to family and societal expectations. Moreover, the sculptures' eventual decay parallels the deterioration of the family relationships and the father's health, symbolizing the impermanent nature of life and the futility of the father's efforts to keep everything in perfect order.
Like the towering statue discussed in the text, requiring viewers to look upward, the father's sculptures might be an attempt to elevate his status in the eyes of his family, demanding a kind of respect or authority. The complex symbolism also touches on the motifs of leadership and paternal responsibility, similar to those found in Soviet propaganda posters described in provided reference material. As Saunders uses these motifs to highlight themes within the story, the sculptures in 'Sticks' become a powerful symbol for the father's character and the family's experiences.