How we cite our quotes: (Chapter, Paragraph)
Quote #7
"How can you keep saying that?" she asks, her voice finally snappy. "How can you keep saying that he's a man and you're not? Just because of some stupid birthday? If you were where I came from you'd already be fourteen and a month!" (24.67)
Thank you, Viola. Someone here has some common sense. She's sick of Todd counting down the days and whining about himself not being a man yet; she sees that coming of age is something more important than a day in the year. If Todd lived in her world, where the year is twelve months instead of thirteen, he'd already be of age.
Quote #8
Whatever they want, whatever the weakness is in me that I can't kill a man even when he deserves it, it's got to change for me to be a man. It's got to or how can I hold my head up? (24.89)
This is the first sign that Todd realizes that becoming a man involves more than his birthday—something needs to change inside of him. He needs to find strength and courage to act. He's got an inkling that becoming a man involves killing something, but luckily Todd has the good character to recognize this definition as bad.
Quote #9
"Sixteen," he says. "Sixteen days till yer birthday." He takes my chin and lifts it. "But you've been a man for a good while now. Don't let no one tell you otherwise." (36.183)
Ben empowers Todd to realize that coming of age is something that you do on your own time, when you're ready. Todd has learned a lot on his journey and has earned the title of a man, without Prentisstown telling him what that means. This puts Todd in charge of himself, which is the final step to him becoming an adult.