Matthew James Thomas once said, "Any young man coming of age has a lot to go through," and Bobby did just that in The First Part Last. As a teenager, Bobby is forced to grow up and generate a change in his life because of his girlfriend's unexpected pregnancy. Throughout the story, Bobby is faced with many important events that change him, and eventually cause him to come of age. Many of the objects in Bobby's life are symbols, which are proof that Bobby is in fact, growing up. One of the first, and most important symbols in The First Part Last is Just Frank's character, and this symbol represents being a man, which must be done for someone to come of age. In addition to symbolizing being a man, his character relates to people's expectations. Without even thinking of the consequences, Just Frank risked his life to save a young girl, in defiance of what others had believed him to be. This is related to being a man because Just Frank took responsibility, decided to be man, and fought back. Bobby says, "I laughed 'cause I didn't consider him much of one, a …show more content…
In The First Part Last, the basketball illustrates Bobby's freedom as a child and as he comes of age, that freedom slowly slips away like the basketball did. In the middle of Bobby realizing he left his daughter, he states, "I lay my basketball down and it rolled out of the door into the hall toward Mary's room." This symbol is representing his freedom of childhood going away, in the same way that the basketball rolls away without him pushing it. When Bobby nearly forgets his daughter, Feather for a game of basketball, the reader views that Bobby is going to have to come of age, whether he likes it or not. Later on in the story, the ball is thrown to Paul's child after being rolled towards Bobby, and this is when it is known that Bobby has definitely come of age, with no choice of going
Bobby is just a boy who like most nine year olds looks up to his older brother. The story is set in Cleveland, where Booby introduces his family of four. His father is a high school music teacher, his mother teaches exceptional children, and his brother Carlton
To the 20, to the 10, to the 5, touchdown! Charlie Gaines is a football phanatic. He knows all there is to know about football. From his favorite team the Los Angeles Bulldogs to the New England Patriots Charlie knows it all. Above all this Charlie truly wishes he were a better football player like his bosom buddy Kevin Fallon. All in all he is still a decent middle linebacker for the Culver City Cardinals. A kid known as the “Brain” because of his freakishly good ability at fantasy football, Charlie Gaines is a very interesting character.
In the memoir Year of Impossible Goodbyes, Sookan changes from a scared girl who isn't willing to stand up for herself, to a brave and self sufficient one. When the story begins, she is in a bad position, but doesn't know how to change her situation. As the story goes on, she slowly learns to be more brave. It starts when Sookan becomes angry after the Japanese take the sock girls, the silverware, and Grandfather's tree. Then, while she is at school, she decides to dull the glass and bricks instead of sharpening them By the end of the book she helps get herself and Inchun to safety in South Korea. The Japanese have once again taken everything. They ruined Haiwon's party, and took the silverware along with Grandfather's pride and pine tree.
In “The First Part Last” there are many, many symbols spread all throughout the book. All of them symbolize him either growing up or not being mature. Symbols are a main part of this book and you have to look deeper than the pages to find them. Here are four of the major symbols in the book.
The poem is narrated in a limited third person perspective of a player that gains possession of the basketball after a rebound. The poet focuses the narrative on the actions directly following him gaining possession of the basketball. The determination the poet feels to keep the ball in his team’s possession and make a shot is felt strongly through the poem’s lines 3-7:
In O’Brien’s story “The Things They Carried”, Jimmy Cross thinks the death of his comrades, Ted Lavender is his fault but it’s not. Jimmy Cross was only 22 year old too young to be First Lieutenant. Jimmy Cross’s obsession with Martha reading and a daydreaming about her letters. In which Jimmy Cross’s mind could escape from the ugliness of the war. In Vietnam War, being a strong leader over the troop is impossible the war’s mission are undefined. Ted Lavender’s death was a great tragedy of the Vietnam War, and not the fault of Jimmy Cross.
The first theme of symbolism is the main character, Guy, who represents the theme of freedom by being enslaved to his family. He claws at freedom by working odd jobs and
The next symbol was the corpse that the narrator encountered in the river after the events with Bobby transpired. The narrator encountering the corpse in the lake was significant because it was a visual representation of not only the river but also death. The corpse was a representation of the river; Greasy Lake was a place filled with death, danger, and destruction. Additionally, his encounter with the corpse drew him to the realization that “…life and sin inevitably lead one to: the corpse, death” (Vannatta). The narrator’s encounter with Bobby and the woman he was with, display the sins of: pride, lust, and greed. During his submersion in the lake, the protagonist was able to perceive and understand that these sins cannot accompany him towards his path to adulthood. One can notice that the narrator is not necessarily a “bad” guy, rather he is one who is confused and wants to relate to his friends Digby and Jeff. The realization of his true character was revealed whenever he was glad that Bobby was alive. The narrator could understand that there would be trouble and repercussions had he actually died from the tire iron. His true feelings were displayed when he said, “...I suddenly felt a rush of joy and vindication: the son of a bitch was alive!” (Boyle 574). The narrator felt the sudden rush of vindication because he was now clear of any blame or suspicion that would later impact
Before meeting Gwen, he didn’t have a sense of identity. He has asked his father numerous of times about where he was born but his father kept changing the name of the places. Bobby’s mother died when he was young and he didn’t have her around to ask her these questions. Bobby really didn’t know who he was all his life. Even when he was taking in to prison, “[he’s] been documented, but even they’d had to make it up, take your name as much on faith as you. You have no social security number or birth certificate, no passport. You’ve never held a job” (651). Bobby feels that he doesn’t exist in this world and there’s no track of him on where he was born. How can someone live half of his life not knowing his real name is? His identity was living with his father’s identity by telling Bobby what to do when it comes to committing crimes. He doesn’t know what other things he could have done because this is all he knew. Bobby didn’t choose this life even though he was grown enough to make his own decisions. He felt that this is where he belongs and nowhere
The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry has many interesting characters. In my opinion, the most fascinating character is Ruth because of her many emotions and captivating personality. She goes through extreme emotions in the play such as happiness, sadness, anger, stress, and confusion. Ruth is very independent, firm, kind, witty, and loving.
The first part last, has so many symbols in it. The first symbol I am going to bring up is the red balloon. The red balloon represents childness and that they are not old enough to have a baby. The balloon comes up in the beginning of the story. It came up because on Bobby’s sixteenth birthday Nia hands him a red balloon and tell him the big news that she is pregnant. Near the middle of the story, Bobby and Nia go to a party and Nia is dancing and having a good time even though she is pregnant.The place they are at is a apartment and it is smoky,smelly, and has really loud music playing which,is probably not good for the baby. That action was really immature because a responsible woman that is pregnant wouldn’t go to a party at all. While they are at the party, Nia brings up the point that she is not ready to take care of a baby. Nia tells Bobby that she wants to give the baby up for adoption. Which is a really big decision because it is there baby and giving it up will be really hard once they actually have her. With the whole adoption process they can chooses if they want to be able to still see her or if they don’t want to see
AP English Literature and Composition MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title: A Raisin In the Sun Author: Lorraine Hansberry Date of Publication: 1951 Genre: Realistic Drama Biographical Information about the Author Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930. She grew up as the youngest in her family. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a real estate broker.
The socioeconomic status of a man determines his eligibility in eighteenth century English society rather than his character. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, searches for love in a society concerned solely on the financial and social aspects of marriage. Conflicts arise when Elizabeth encounters the proud, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as she develops strong complex emotions towards him. When Lydia, Elizabeth’s youngest sister, weds the captivating Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth 's relationship further complicates. Through comparing the second eldest and the youngest Bennet daughters, Lydia’s childish qualities foil Elizabeth 's mature sensibility.
“We don’t need the Nazis to destroy us. We’re destroying ourselves.” (559).These words of Mr. Frank shows many of the multifarious characteristic traits he possess. This quote shows that Mr. Frank is forgiving and has control over his own emotions. He doesn’t want any disputes in the Annex and he doesn’t lose control when angry. It also shows that he is authoritative. Mr. Frank took control of the situation in the midst of everyone arguing. One last example of a characteristic trait this quote shows is that he is intelligent. Mr. Frank understands the importance of forgiveness. He realizes that everyone is beginning to turn on each other and attempts others to forgive. For example, Mr. Frank tried to convince the others to forgive Mr. Van Daan