Jack comes of age in This Boy's Life, which means he has manliness on his mind: how to show it, who to exercise it and what that makes him as a human being. Dwight is also focused on masculinity—specifically, on "making a man" out of Jack, which doesn't go quite the way he'd planned. Either way, we got us a helping of macho here, which Jack tries to work his way through in a typical halting and awkward teenage manner. We've all been there big guy, though admittedly, it didn't always involve a boxing match with our best friend to do it.
Questions About Men and Masculinity
- How does Jack's concept of masculinity differ from Dwight's?
- Does Jack have any viable masculine role models in the book? Who are they (if any) and why does he respond to them?
- Does the fact that Jack lacks a father figure change his outlook on men at all?
- How does Jack's mother respond to the need to provide masculine role models for Jack?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Jack's search for masculinity is compounded by the fact that he lives with his mother.
Jack's mother helps him learn to be a man (either deliberately or inadvertently).