Bobby Symbolism

In the book First Part Last A character Known as bobby begins a Journey to come of age. Which at the end he completes. There are several reoccurring symbols that are very present in the book that guide Bobby on his journey from a boy to a man. Such as the basket ball, or the arcade.these are just a few of the many symbols in the book. There were many things that were symbolic of coming of age in the first part last. One of them was the red balloon At first glance it may not seem like much ,nia handing bobby a balloon, but it has many different meanings. Before we get to deeper meanings of the balloon we have to start with the basics. The ballon is red, which most people connect with love and compassion. This symbolizes nias love for bobby. But it also symbolizes the elephant in the room, her giving him the baby because love comes with a baby which we established the red balloon symbolizes. Next it also symbolizes nia handing off her childhood to bobby for the
Arguably the most strongest and most present symbol of the whole book. The reader learns of frank as soon as the book starts. He is first portrayed as a homeless bum that didn't do anything with his life. Then just as quick as the reader met frank he was gone. But before this he would always ask Bobby "you a man boy". Frank gave his life to save a girl what a true man or someone acting his age would do. He acted like a hero or soldier. Which set the whole scene for the book. The idea of growing up and coming of age. Then at the end of the book Bobby speaks to the reader about Frank one last time, Bobby says to frank as if he is right next to him that, yes, he is indeed a man. Which is exactly how we met Frank. Just as frank did Bobby was in the beginning bobby was portrayed as a bad kid. But as the book progressed Bobby changed, He did what Frank did. Sacrificed his life, or in this case his childhood for feather. Just as Frank did