Jamie might not be robbing banks or hiding bodies, but he's definitely on the road to a felony since a sketchy dude named Fat Larkin pays him and Branson twenty bucks a pop to knock out joggers and steal their iPods.
Punkzilla raises some important questions about what makes someone a criminal. If your home life is intolerable, and military school is intolerable, and you run away at fourteen, what are you supposed to do to support yourself? You can't even get a job, because you're not old enough. Unfortunately, the readily available options are stealing, panhandling, and sex work, as we see from Jamie and his Portland crew. They've got to eat, after all.
Questions About Criminality
- Why is it okay with Branson if Buck Tooth Jenny does sex work, but not if she poses online? After all, she'd make more money online.
- Will Jamie stop stealing in Memphis? Will living with Jorge get him on the straight and narrow? Why does Jamie steal Sam's backpack?
- Why doesn't Jamie feel guilty when he knocks someone out to get their iPod?
Chew on This
Extraordinary circumstances (for example, homelessness) lead ordinary people to commit crimes.
The Major acts far more terribly than Jamie ever does.