Jason's Coming of Age
I know this is a broad topic, but I thought it was important to address Jason's broad coming of age in this book, and, more specifically, the ways in which we can tell. His behavior changes a lot from the beginning to the end. At the beginning, we can tell that he is uncomfortable, immature and scared to speak up, even when other people are hurting him. However, he goes through many growth experiences throughout the book that open his eyes, the most notable of which being his interactions with Eva. She points out many interesting things to him that he hadn't noticed before, and kind of exposes all of these things that Jason has been keeping locked up inside of himself (like his stammer and the "hairy barbarians").
One of the biggest changes we notice in Jason is the fact that he stops using the word "gay" to describe things, and even sometimes uses words that he would have described as "gay" before (like "beautiful" when he's talking to Holly Deblin). He also shifts his role model from Hugo to Julia, and the most important part of this is the fact that Hugo has nothing over Jason anymore. Jason has kissed a girl, and Hugo is no longer this cool older kid that he idolizes. Also, Jason finds the capacity to stand up for himself. He is no longer scared of being a snitch (or a "grass" in this case), but he just completely tells on Neal Brose and becomes popular the right way, by standing up to the bullies. He tried several times before (like by joining Spooks, for example), but the only time that he succeeds is when he does it in this way.
I agree with the examples you used to demonstrate his development as a character. However, while they say that actions speak louder than words, I still think that the most significant way we could witness Jason's coming of age was actually through his inner monologues, and how his perspective shifts throughout the story.
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree with both of you actually. I do think that Jason's thoughts matter because they show how Jason's perspective on things changes as he grows. However, I also think that his actions matter as well because they hold him accountable for his thoughts. If Jason had realized that he didn't care about the hierarchy anymore but did nothing to stand up to the bullying (either verbal or physical), I think we wouldn't be as satisfied with the ending.
DeleteHe has definitely tried so many different ways to be popular, cool, or essentially, a person he can be proud of. Of all the different ways, we see him struggle to reach that point where he views himself as cool and popular. However, it is only at the end when we really see this. When he was able to take a step back away from social rules and social hierarchies, he was able to finally focus on himself. He didn't care about what others said about him, which caused his confidence to grow. Only after he accepted his true identity, was he able to truly be proud of himself.
ReplyDeleteReally great overview! While I think it's safe to say that Jason's coming of age process has not fully come to an end, he went through a lot of meaningful changes in the course of just one year. The way he views social hierarchies and his relation to them stands out as the way he's developed most. He's learned to separate himself from the crowd, view himself more as an individual and be confident in himself and his interests. Good points!
ReplyDeleteNice post! I like how you noticed Jason moving away from calling negative things 'gay' and his clear change in attitude towards popularity. It made him realize what's truly important in life and this new Jason is able to get his first kiss. While his coming-of-age isn't complete, he's definitely changed a lot for the better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on every example of his character growth, and I feel that it’s not only evident through his actions but also his dialogue and inner perspective. Even subconsciously, when Jason is talking to the reader, I could see how he was developing over the novel. I especially noticed the examples of mentioned of how he stopped using “gay” to describe things and how Hugo and the Spooks were no longer his idols.
ReplyDeleteI think the development of his vocabulary is actually an interesting way to see his development as a character. I feel like it's a relatable theme to see a kid mature through the way they articulate their thoughts and feelings. Nice anecdote!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Another thing to note is his confidence played such a big role in his coming of age. At the start, he was so consumed in being at the top of the hierarchy because it was almost like he needed someone to tell him he's cool because he couldn't see it in himself. Towards the end we really see his view on life shift and although his coming of age isn't over, his mentality has clearly matured.
ReplyDeleteI think your take on Jason's growth through not using "gay" to describe things is interesting. It shows the internal growth he has had. Jason is now able to stand up for himself and has matured in an almost heroic way.
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