What events cause a person to come of age? Could Angela Johnson's protagonist in the first part last be a perfect example? There are three major solid objects that occur along Bobby's life that symbolize the coming of age process taking place: The gameboy,the basketball, and the arcade. By the resolution of this novel, Bobby did come of age. To begin, the arcade is symbolism for Bobby completely leaving behind his childhood. On page 111, Bobby is on his way to visit Nia and he goes by an arcade where kids his age are hanging out. "Haven't had the time, and probably won't ever have," Bobby states. When he says this he is referring to how he has been too busy with adulthood responsibilities to go enjoy himself at this arcade. The arcade symbolizes …show more content…
I know this because when Bobby makes his trip down to the basketball court, he has his basketball with him. This represents Bobby beginning his coming of age process with Feather. The basketball represents Feather because the ball is with Bobby along Bobby's trip to the basketball court. The trip represents Bobby coming of age with Feather by his side. When Bobby makes it back safely in his apartment, that symbolizes when Bobby is in Heaven, Ohio with Feather, and then at that point he sets down the ball to roll away. The way I know that Bobby being in Heaven is a positive thing for Feather refers back to when Bobby sees all the pictures of kids and families in homes that have yards, and swing sets, and his home in Heaven has a yard. Bobby hopes that by putting this baby up for adoption, she will be happier and safe. Judging by that, we know that Bobby believes that that environment is better for a baby, therefore, proving that Heaven is a safer place for Feather. The basketball rolling away represents Feather growing with her own identity, because Bobby was a successful parent after coming of …show more content…
When Feather is eleven days old, Bobby contemplates laying Feather down to go find the gameboy. This symbolizes laying down his adulthood responsibilities to remain a child. "But I didn't," Bobby said. He does not do this because he simply understands that he has come of age now, and his responsibilities as an adult are more important than finding the gameboy, or giving up to remain a child. Not going to look for this gameboy symbolizes that at this point, Bobby has completely come to terms with the fact that he has fully come of age, and childhood is no longer pertinent. As you can see, the previously stated objects that Bobby encountered, prove that Bobby did come of age by the resolution of this novel. The gameboy because he thought about looking for it, but decided not to. Which symbolizes that later on he gets to a point where he sees no reason in trying to remain a child. The basketball, represents how Feather grew up with Bobby as her parent because he properly came of age by the end. Also, the arcade because towards the end, Bobby went past an arcade and resisted going inside. He had time, and he had friends there, yet he still didn't go because a childish thing such as that did not seem interesting to Bobby. So, there are many events and objects associated with them that caused Bobby to come of age. What events, objects, feelings, and other factors cause one to come of age? The protagonist
Reading coming of age stories are always interesting and at times nastolgic. Coming of age stories typically include a young protagonist forced to make a grown decision which is a transition to their first move into adulthood. In a sense, these stories show the protagonist shifting from innocence to gaining experiences. The two coming of age stories that we read in class were “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett and “The Man Who Was Almost A Man” by Richard Wright. Both being coming of age stories, they have similar features but were different in the sense that one protagonist seemed to have made a shift into adulthood whereas one did not.
Various novels can be classified as “coming-of-age” texts, this means that these are stories about a protagonist’s transition from childhood to adulthood or just growing up even as an adult. These novels show their growth and change in character over the length of the text. Novels such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston are all examples of coming-of-age novels. In Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God the story is focused on Janie Crawford and her growth over the course of the book.
The Basketball is an interesting symbol in the book. It (along with the gameboy) were the things that Bobby held dearest to him when he was a younger boy. At that age, he relied on those things (and his mother especially) completely. As he got older, and had feather, those things began to slip away. But that one day that Bobby accidentally leaves feather behind to go play basketball with his friends, he comes back in a
Another symbol is Just Frank, who is an old guy that stayed at the corner in the apartments. He would tell Bobby that he needed to change if he wanted to become a man. One night Just Frank was killed while trying to help a girl from being dragged into an alley by an idiot. Frank trying to help the girl was being a man. Bobby wants to be a man like Just Frank. He wants to be someone’s hero and make a change. “I went to his funeral at Zion AME, then walked home and held Feather for the rest of the night, wondering if I would be a man, a good man” (Johnson 7). This quote from the novel shows that Bobby wants to be like Just Frank and be a man.
Coming of age is an influential part of many people’s lives. They begin to leave behind their innocent childhood views and develop a more realistic view on the world around them as they step forward into adulthood. (Need to add transition) Many authors have a coming of age theme in their books; specifically, Harper Lee portrays a coming of age theme in his book To Kill A Mockingbird. Through the journeys of their childhoods, Jem and Scout lose their innocence while experiencing their coming of age moment, making them realize how unfair Maycomb really is.
"Too late, you're out of time. Be a grown-up." (Johnson ). As humans, we have discovered that as children grow, there comes a point in their lives where they transition from childhood to adulthood. This process is called "coming of age". The idea is that adolescents shed their childhood mindset and take on adult responsibilities. In The First Part Last, the protagonist, Bobby, is faced with the responsibility of having a child of his own, and he begins the coming of age process. By the end of the novel, it is obvious that Bobby has successfully come of age, based on the symbols and events that are show throughout the novel.
Bobby, a young troubled man, Was raised by his father, a professional con artist after the death of his mother. From a very young age Bobby was exposed to the criminal acts of his father and was taught to lead the same path. When he turns seventeen years old, Bobby meets and falls in love with a girl called Gwen. She gives him a sense of identity and belonging he missed his entire life. During the same time he learns
In coming of age stories, the protagonists often experience a pensive and dramatic moment where either they break through to adulthood or retreat to childhood - it is this moment that unveils the magnitude of growing up for the reader.
If society was asked what defines “coming of age,” what would it say? Some would say people come of age when they act more mature, think grown up thoughts, or do certain actions. This quote by someone unknown helps form an explanation of what coming of age is: “Maturity doesn’t mean age; it means sensitivity, manners, and how you react.” In the literature piece “The First Part Last,” the author Angela Johnson writes about two teenagers, Bobby and Nia, who struggle with the difficulties of teen pregnancy. Throughout the book, they both face many hardships that put their relationship, patience, and responsibility to the test. With the help of a red balloon, a basketball, and family pictures in a doctor’s office, Bobby comes of age after paying attention to these symbols and signs throughout the novel.
Every time that Bobby would walk by Just Frank on the street, Just Frank would ask if Bobby was "being a man" (Johnson 7). A true man would give up his wants to help someone in need. When Just Frank died trying to save a girl in an ally, he was symbolizing a hero. Just Frank could have had a feeling that Bobby's immaturity would lead him down a path where he would end up having to make some tough choices. Just Frank could have been trying to get Bobby to try to mature so that he could be a hero to Feather, his daughter, who was a result of his poor choices. Bobby never really did know what Just Frank meant when he asked him this, but he eventually understood when he finally matured fully into a man. Bobby finally felt like a man when he took on the challenge of raising his daughter alone. After Bobby finalized his decision, he said ,"I think I see Just Frank standing at the end of the hall" (Johnson 126). By quitting his immature actions, and keeping the baby, Bobby finally felt like he was "being a man" (Johnson 126). Having a vision of Just Frank made Bobby realize why he had always asked him that same question over and over again. He realized that Just Frank knew that Bobby would finally have to grow up so that he could be Feather's hero. When Bobby finally grew up and matured, he felt vastly satisfied with
Goes through physical changes at this age, as this happens they become more mature, and as they begin to show interest and skills in different subjects as their confidence grows through communicating effectively with adults.
age it is also one of the worlds most popular and beloved themes in literature.
Secondly, the characters in the novel, Bobby and Dr. Barney, teach that it is vital to hold on to hope because everyone has a future, regardless of the present and their past. Bobby shows things can change for the better with his discovery of his true home. Bobby announces at Six North that “This kid literally gave me the shirt off his back, the blue one right here and he didn’t know me from the Adam, and there ain’t no questions, without him, I wouldn’t have gotten this home. This new home” (Vizzini 317). Bobby lived in his car last year until a tow truck took away everything he had. Consequently, he loses hope and wants to kill himself. At Six North, Craig helps Bobby with a job interview. Through Craig’s act of kindness, Bobby learns that his true home is Six North where he is and welcomed and appreciated for who he is. Furthermore, Dr. Barney tells Craig about his personal experience with depression. He eventually reveals to Craig the secret to depression:
In a standard coming of age novel, the protagonist is usually in their adolescent to early adulthood years.
Coming of age is our minds and bodies evolving into a more mature person. It isn’t based off age, but more of experience and knowledge. Most of the time, coming of age is more profound in the young due to the transition from childhood to adulthood. During this transition, they have their first experience of