Coming Of Age Quotes

The classic coming of age novel ‘Runner’ by Robert Newton explores the adolescent period of the teenage boy Charlie Feehan. His life in the slums of Richmond post World War I is completely altered by the death of his father, which pushes Charlie’s family further into poverty and forces him to eventually fill his father’s boots. Although Charlie and his family are burdened by this major loss Charlie is determined to try and help them escape the depths of poverty. This burning sense of empowerment fuels Charlie to run in order to grow past his mistakes, witness the world in a new light and salvage the chance for a better life.

Charlie’s ambitions and internal need for control forces him to run in order to change his own destiny. Young and poor,

Before Charlie starts to run, the world was centred around his home, school and family. Therefore when ‘the sleazy streets seduced’ Charlie he took to them like a ‘drunk to a bottle’ eager to witness the city in all its glory and step outside his comfort zone to experience all the wonders it provides. It became his escape from the pitiful life he is living in the slums and a distraction from the heartache he feels, due to his father death and the problems that are occurring at home. Especially during the time in which Ma has to stomach Mr Peacock’s sexual approaches to help her son stay warm, although that isn’t how Charlie perceives it. He is ashamed of his mother and believes ‘she has no right to be wearing his [fathers] ring anymore’. With his outlook on the situation he takes to the streets, running so much he barely sees his mother anymore and he starts to feel ‘more like a tenant than a son’. Charlie is introduced to a whole new world through the solace he finds in running and although this does help him support his family and experience new things, it becomes an outlet to the complications happening within the family