Saif's Coming of Age Blog

     In a teenage boy’s life, a father shapes you a lot. You learn how to carry yourself, speak, and what kind of man you want to become. But sometimes a father teaches you in the opposite way. Certain times you learn from his mistakes, weakness, and the things he does wrong. In Black Swan Green, Michael Taylor, or “Dad,” ends up being one of the most important people in Jason’s life for that exact reason. He matters not because he is the epitome of a great father, but rather because Jason is constantly watching him and slowly realizing the kind of man he does not want to be. Early on in the story, Dad is already portrayed as distant and secretive. His office is described like a “forbidden chamber,” and when Jason answers the phone, he hears Sesame Street in the background, then a crying baby before the line goes dead. Right away, it is obvious (to the reader) that something is off with Dad.      As the novel goes on, Jason keeps picking up on the cracks in...

  Look Both Ways Before You Cross! Was Bruce Bechdel’s death a suicide or just a careless mistake? Throughout the entirety of Fun Home, that one question sits in the background. Early in the story, readers learn that the cause of Bruce’s demise was by means of a truck. Though, instead of presenting one definite answer, Alison repeatedly returns to that one singular moment and examines it from different angles. As for one of the possibilities, the accident could have simply been a mere mistake where Bruce forgot to look both ways before crossing the street. We were told that it was common for Bruce to walk along the road, and it is quite plausible that he misjudged the distance of the truck or stepped into the road without realizing how quickly it was approaching. However, the way Alison reflects on the event makes the moment feel more complicated, which keeps the possibility of suicide prevalent in the reader’s mind.      As the story continues to unfold, the questio...

       Buddy Willard is one of the most unsettling characters in The Bell Jar , and it is not because he is openly cruel. It is because he is portrayed as so convincingly perfect. On paper, he is initially described as everything Esther is supposed to desire in a partner. He is charismatic, handsome, and headed toward a respectable career as a doctor. Buddy also offers the lifestyle that all the girls around Esther had been actively seeking. At a time when Esther is coming of age and unsure of who she is becoming, Buddy appears to be the safest option.      Yet early on, Esther just feels something off about him. She notices that Buddy often wears “a kind of mild, pleased expression” (Plath 52). He always seems satisfied with himself, as though he knows he is playing the part correctly. In Esther’s eyes, Buddy does not simply exist as a decent man and senses that polish long before she understands why it unsettles her.      The illusion ...

     We are introduced to Mr. Antonlini as one of the most influential characters in Holden’s life. Though we do not know much information until later on in the novel, Holden described him as being one of the least ‘phony’ people he knew. Mr. Antolini was also an intellectual character who understood Holden in a psychological manner.      In fact, Mr. Antolini even discouraged D.B. from joining Hollywood because he knew that it would change his personality. Along with that, “old Mr. Antolini felt his pulse and all, and then he took off his coat and put it over James Castle and carried him all the way over to the infirmary.” (Sallinger 221). This act provided Holden with deep respect, because James Castle died protecting his principles, a trait Holden which deeply admires. Thus, all of these traits made Holden inclined to reach out to Antolini for support during the worst mental state he had ever been in. In desperation, Holden heads over to Mr. Antolini’s a...