“These jokes the world plays, they're not funny at all.”
- David Mitchell, Black Swan Green
Jason Taylor's story seems to be the most intelligible coming-of-age we have seen in this class so far. In the course of a year, Jason's perspective on the world transforms tremendously, and his own world at home and school changes completely. I couldn't help but feel a bit melancholy when the final scene ended with Jason's reminiscing on his life a year before. This reflection really put into perspective the amount of events that Jason confronted in his thirteenth year of living. It seems to me that his coming-of-age was not a joyful occasion or period in his life, a trend that we have seen in most of the novels we have read. So, is this transition to adulthood something negative? Or is there more to be gained than lost?
Before Jason's supposed "maturing," his life doesn't appear to be particularly delightful, at least from his narration. Of course, most of his issues revolve around the boys at his school, and the complicated social politics which Jason must navigate with his secrets. Reading these chapters, it is east to be frustrated by how extremely concerned he is about how he is perceived. To a more mature audience, the tension brewing between his parents and the tragedy of the war is far more alarming than this social battle. However, as the novel progresses, so does Jason's awareness of the conflicts that surround him. This evolution can be seen in his reactions to both the Falkland's War and the tension within his household. Previously, Jason had been fascinated by the war, and was inclined to believe the propaganda of the Daily Mail. Later however, he becomes unsure of who to believe and his optimism about the war diminishes to anger. He says, “Me, I want to bloody kick this moronic bloody world in the bloody teeth over and over till it bloody understands that not hurting people is ten bloody thousand times more bloody important than being right." (Mitchell 118).
Nevertheless, while Jason has lost the ability to be blissfully unaware of his parents' conflict, he also gains a comradery with his sister, Julia. He previously portrayed his relationship with Julia as very turbulent and often cruel. Then, in light of their parent's issues, Jason ends up forming an "alliance" with Julia and he later has actual meaningful conversations with her. In addition to this strengthened bond, Jason also seems to develop a sense for his own moral values. Where before Jason had been willing to do anything to fit in, we gradually witness the qualms he has about certain decisions, and how they affect him. For example, he has the chance to get revenge on Ross Wilcox by keeping his wallet, but his consciousness keeps bothering him about it. Ultimately, Jason returns the wallet, even though he does not benefit from this act. Instead we see that Jason is beginning to understand the complexities of justice, and his own morals.
For the most part, Jason's coming-of-age could be a bittersweet story about the loss of innocence. But I think it is also a reflection on the development of self identity as you transition to adulthood. His newfound confidence and knowledge is only the basis for the rest of his life. As Julia says, "It'll be all right...because it's not the end."
Great post! I like how you emphasize Jason's growing regard for his own morals. I agree that they are a huge part of his coming of age, and sticking to his morals are what ironically help him become popular instead of his social politicking from the beginning of the book. I think its interesting that even though Jason feels responsible for Ross losing his leg, he feels guilty that he didn't give the wallet back earlier, not that he gave it back at all.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting how much more apparent Jason's coming of age is than for the characters from pretty much any other book we read. I like how you show how his worldview changes as he grows up and sees his life differently, especially in the context of the greater world. I also agree that he seems to get a more developed sense of morality by the end of the book especially with Ross Wilcox.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that Jason's coming-of-age is much more clear-cut than any of the other characters we have read about this semester. In addition, it feels like he matures in many ways more than one. It overall seems to be the most traditional coming-of-age story that we've read so far. That might make it less unique, but I think that it was a refreshing read.
ReplyDeleteNice Post! Jason's coming-of-age was the clearest one I have read so far. I liked how much change we could see in Jason over the span of only one year. He stuck to his morals and in the end, it kind of paid off. Even though at the end of the book the plot became a little bit more negative, Jason will get a fresh start somewhere else, just with one year more experience.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that a lot happens to Jason in this book, more than in others we've read. It also doesn't end on the most positive note, with his parents getting divorced and him having to move to a different school. But maybe Jason's coming-of-age is less about changing the world he's living in and more about learning how to cope with life's challenges. His new relationship with Julia could be one of those coping mechanisms. Great post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I agree that BSG depicts the harsher aspects of coming of age. Jason learns a lot of things the hard way, with the divorce of his parents and death of someone he knew in the war. Jason has to learn to cope with a lot of things without someone to guide him through it. These experiences force him to grow up quickly and it's definetely a sad thing to see.
ReplyDeleteThis definitely does seem like a more negative coming-of age story. Jason's struggles with his identity and maturity a lot, and it doesn't even seem like he's completely figured it out by the end. Although it's set in a darker, negative tone, we see a lot of developments with Jason. You pointed out how Jason hands back the wallet (even when he could've kept it and doomed his bully), which I thought was a great example of his growth in maturity. He wasn't even doing it to curry favor with Ross Wilcox. He just did it because he felt some sympathy. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThe quote you use as your epigraph--in which Jason is reacting to the information that Debby Crombie is pregnant with the late Tom Yew's child (a conception Jason has actually witnessed--another of the secrets he continues to carry around)--reflects something of the broadening of Jason's horizons by the end of the novel. At the start of the book, Black Swan Green is "the world" (the only part of it that matters to Jason), and the rules are the rules. He may not LIKE the hierarchy, but he has to exist within it, and he puts all his energy into pleasing these authorities. As the book proceeds, he gets more and more skeptical of the game itself, and he starts to see all these parallels between the "gang-ups" at school and local politics (the "gypsy" outrage), and even national politics (the war in the Falklands). He is now confronting the harsh and grim "world" more generally, when he comments on the irony of Debby's pregnancy--but by the end of the novel, this baby is just being born, and this becomes one more "beginning" at the novel's end.
ReplyDeleteI agree in that this book was also probably the most complex coming-of-age story we've read in this class. For someone who's thirteen years old and grows so much over the course of the year, it's fascinating to see Jason both find his place within the world, between all the hierarchies and tragedies that exist in his society, while actively questioning these systems as well. You mention that for mature audiences, the Falklands War or the divorce may be more concerning but what makes them so interesting in part, is how Jason reacts to them. Within the span of the month, Jason goes from being a parrot for The Daily Mail to being pretty skeptical of war and politics and questioning for what end are these means justified. His ability to see patterns in his immediate world and connect them to events happening in the news and feel empathy for people who are grouped and dehumanized by politics is really admirable and the end shows that he's just started his journey.
ReplyDeleteI think Jason's coming of age was the most obvious out of all the books we've read so far and I agree with you on that one But what I also think is interesting is that would we still considered Jason coming of age as keeping ross' wallet.
ReplyDelete