Themes Of Coming Of Age Bobby

Coming of age: Bobby style.

What causes coming of age? How should an “adult” act? Does adulthood come with age or with the growth of one's mind. Who is really able to truthfully say that another person is an official adult. Is there such thing as an “official” adult? Are these questions based on opinion, fact or both. And can symbolism help us decide if someone is an adult.
When children move home’s district’s, county’s or states it's because the parents decide where and when to move. From many various ages and scenarios all kids are dependent on someone to provide for them whether they are there or not. The parents decide what is best for the kid whether that is, the parent gets a better paying job, closer to town to save money on gas, go
to a cheaper more affordable neighborhoods, or schools. Which shows that the parent loves the kid and cares for them and they are putting the kids needs first, and shows maturity by caring first for the child or children. Bobby in Angela Johnson's the first part last shows this important characteristic as he now lives in heaven, Ohio with his young daughter feather, and his brother Paul and his kids. Bobby left all he knew behind the city noise, his friends, and his family. Angela Johnson conveys this idea when Bobby states “ I will talk about how i didn't know if
it would all work out as me and Feather pulled out of new york on the bus, and waved to everybody that we left behind.” Again Angela Johnson meant that Bobby did not know exactly what he was doing but he knew that where
he was, was not good for Feather to be as well. Therefore Bobby took a risk in moving to Heaven Ohio with Paul but, was willing to take the risk in doing so. Thankfully Johnson makes everything workout for Bobby and Feather as we see later when Bobby tells us “ I can tell you how it feels sitting in the window with Feather pointing out the creek that rolls past our backyard.”
Earlier in the book Bobby decided to illegally spray paint a wall in the middle city to release emotion and to paint a picture of what he felt inside.
Bobby skipped school that day, and he left Feather with his babysitter. Bobby didn't intend to stay at the wall to long but did when he lost himself in his feelings. Bobby stayed at the wall till just before nightfall, far past the end of the school day. However the painting Bobby painted specifically the color he chooses gives us a bigger picture of what he's really feeling. The greens represent a new beginning and that it will get better, the blues represent the sadness and stress he's going through, the red represents his love and affection towards Nia and Feather. Though Bobby made a stupid choice in vandalizing the wall, he released emotion and built up feeling which was good and made him stronger, and he focused on what was in front of him more, which was his baby. Bobby realized he messed up and came to terms of it, yes he had assistance from his dad in doing so but it is still important that he realized and but more so that he acted on it as well which proves his strive and struggle to become an adult yet his
age.
When Nia is introduced she handed Bobby a balloon. The balloon though small in size became a key point in the book and it then became a very symbolic picture of many things. Many thoughts come to mind when the color red is brought up love, blood, pain, roses and other romantic but hurt filled concepts. We often think that balloons are for kids and they tend to be, that idea is applicable to this scenario as well. The balloon is love, bittersweet and, represents a child and the loving of that child. And even how Nia handed the balloon to Bobby is symbolic, she is giving back to him what he gave to her. And they will start a new life which is bittersweet. Its great to start a new life but however it's not always fun or easy saying goodbye to the old one. Bobby and nia made immature decisions in the beginning of the book and slowly they mature together. But Bobby seems to mature faster and more than Nia. Perhaps it's because Bobby is the main character and we focus a lot of attention on him.
The first part last is a interesting book and develops well the characters equally the same. By the last word that's said we can develop the theory hopefully proven fact that bobby is an adult at heart and a softie at soul. But make no mistake he's a fighter as well. And has proven himself mature and in many books an adult.