American Literature

American Literature

This Boys Life

In the beginning of the novel you find Toby and his mother on their way to Utah to start a new life mining uranium ore. On their way they have to stop while the car is overheated and they spot a large truck going over the guardrail and into a river gorge. They are on there way to Utah because Toby’s mother wants to return to the type of lifestyle she had when she was younger and her father was a wealthy man before the stock market crash of 1929.

Toby has been told by his father to not change his name due to a family and religious tradition. Once Toby learns that the tradition is false he changes his name to be known as Jack after the author Jack London. He did this for the fact that if he got the name his father gave him out of his life he would remove any connections with his father. Jack makes some friends in the Mormon community and when he isn’t around them he usually writes letters to his pen pal in Phoenix. He often writes what he wants his life to be like and not what it is I got a sense that he was very lonely in this stage of the Movie and in the Book.

Later on in the story Jack tries to convince his friend Roy to give him a Winchester .22 Rifle. Roy finally gives him the rifle, which his mother Rosemary is very disappointed. She demands Roy take the rifle back that he eventually does. Roy continues to persuade Rosemary to let Jack have the rifle, which she later agrees too. Jack eventually starts to play with the rifle first by pointing it at a civilian below on the walkway and later on by shooting an innocent squirrel behind the apartments in which they live. One day Roy ask Jack what he thinks of having a little brother, Jack nods and answers with “a lot of fun” to not disappoint his friend. I think Jack answered like that to maybe cheer up Roy or make him feel like it would be a good idea in any way. Jack then sees Roy placing his things into his jeep and watches him drive away, never to see him again.

Soon after Jack and his Mother find themselves in a boardinghouse in Western Seattle. They soon meet Marian the housekeeper, she is a larger women and