A Foil To Dunstable Analysis

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What makes a man? Where do the confines of progeny end, and competency begin? Together, we have placed an immense amount of pressure onto childhood, fulfilling it and escaping it. But what is... it? By definition, childhood is illustrated as “the state of being a child” or, “the period during which a person is a child.” However, these definitions seem slightly broad to me. You see, the term childhood is nonspecific and can imply a varying range of years in human development. Allowing many to question, what does it truly mean to “grow up”? During the 17th century, the idea of childhood began to spread across Europe. Adults saw children as separate beings, innocent and in need of protection and training by the adults surrounding them. Previous …show more content…

A foil to Dunstable, Percy signifies himself as the epitome of an entitled, spoiled little boy. Unsurprisingly, he transitions into an entitled, spoiled man. From a young age, Staunton knows how to manipulate others to in order get what he wants. He is born into a place of advantage, hailing from the town's richest family. Through bullying, and the humiliation of others, Percy buys his way to into societal upperclass. However, distinguishing an adept talent for making money, he remains emotionally stunted. It can be observed that one's childhood experiences are key to the stability of their soul. One mishap in childhood can create a devastating blow to one's true happiness in later life. This was exactly the case in Boy Staunton's life. Despite being dealt a seemingly affluent foundation, it only took one blow - one snowball, to knock Staunton off track. Although the characters separate childhood’s were illustrated quite distinctly, Percy and Dunstable shared one assimilated likeness. Both grew up feeling guilt for Mrs. Dempster. Though he recreates himself as Boy Staunton, Percy always remains the same person who threw the careless snowball at Mrs. Dempster. This particular incident acted as an onset for Boy's growing shadow, and contributed to the eventual demise of his soul. It should be mentioned, the irony of a person who had such a significant influence on Boy …show more content…

This implies what many consider to be true: that growing up is merely a matter of measurable time. Growing up, if it could have been deemed as such, was for me, anything but emblematic or quintessential. For many others, and for myself, childhood endured a more escalated pace. Beginning around the age of 5, my insurance was less of a matter of mom or dad, but a $20 Walmart door lock. A barrier between calm and aggression, I would fall into ritual. Curling inward, echoic, telling myself, “I can't run away, I don't have anywhere to go. I’m just a little girl.” You see, It isn't the idea that I felt as though I needed to run away at such a young age that haunts me today, it's the fact that I knew I was “just a little girl,” and that somehow I knew some part of my innocence was gone. Upon turning 16, I acted on these words, and left despite having no place to go. Still, I don't see myself as anything more than a girl, or any more of a grown up than any of you. A "loss of innocence" is a common concept, and is often seen as an integral part of ones coming of age. Although we find ourselves at a loss for words when it comes down to a definition, there has always been a seemingly shared understanding that childhood implies a separated and safe space. So while it is easy to both over-analyze and over-simplify the adolescence ideal, I recommend a moment in which you

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