Saturday, May 16, 2015
Conclusions
Before beginning this class a few months ago, I was worried that every book we read would be just like the other. Yes, they might have all had the same basic story outline, but every single one brought something new to the table. I think every character showed a different part of what drives me. Things I feel are embodied to their extremes in each character but they all stress the same message. Be yourself. Don't try and conform just to get friends. Like Jason quickly found out, this is the easiest way to lose friends. Holden was himself but he ostracized everyone else who weren't exactly like him. Sylvie knows she's different but finds herself and is happy at the end of her novel. All of these characters just help further the point that all my teachers and parents are stressing as I look towards college. Life isn't what you plan it to be but it will work out.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Black Swan Green may have turned out quite differently if Jason didn't go back for Dean; I would be extremely interested in seeing a darker Jason come out, and if he had any guilty feelings about leaving Dean behind. Anyways, I wonder if "be yourself" was really the message of Catcher in the Rye (then again, it's been ages since I've read it so my memory is a tad bit fuzzy). It seemed that Holden was extremely destructive, both to himself and those around him. It was only until he got the help he needed that he felt more in charge, but still ultimately was sent back into the system.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that each of these books had a lot in common, but also brought new themes to the table. I felt that each different protagonist gave me some kind of new perspective on my own coming-of-age, and while I'm not trying to live my life like a novel, I wonder what my own Bildungsroman would be like if it were written by an older me.
ReplyDelete