This Boy S Life Practice Essay
6. It is Jack’s lack of a stable, male role model that is to blame for his actions. To what extent do you agree?
Tobias Wolff’s memoir, “This Boy’s Life”, explores the idea that an individual’s actions can be altered due to the people they are exposed to. The protagonist Jack Wolff lives an impressionable life where he undergoes somewhat of a dilemma in relations to his actions, being incapable of changing for the greater good of himself. The absence of a proper male role model plays a large role on Jack’s actions, though is definitely not the only reason. Jack’s actions are influenced by Rosemary’s abusive and power craving ex-husband Roy, as well as Dwight’s violent and arrogant personality. However, Jack is also responsible for his actions as he chooses to actually undertake them; as well as Rosemary who has not disciplined Jack enough.
Rosemary’s ex-husband Roy thrives on having power over others, which is a major reason as to why Jack acts how he does. Despite the fact that Roy seems nice towards Jack and occasionally “drives into the desert to shoot at cans and look for ore”, Roy actually has an alcoholic and abusive side to him. Roy’s abusive and power thriving attitude is used only against Rosemary, who is held in place by Roy’s “threats and occasional brutality”. Granting all this, Jack “thought Roy was what a man should be”, which leads to him developing a desire for power. A significant section of the memoir which demonstrates this is when Roy gives Jack a Winchester .22 rifle – a ‘turning point’ in Jacks life. He states that “[he] needed that rifle, for itself and for the way it completed [him] when [he] held it”. This quote depicts the fact that Jack lacks the feeling of power, which is a trait that he is given by this rifle. Roy’s power over others is achieved in an unjust manner, which is what Jack now possesses due to his Winchester .22. This is evident while he is pointing his gun at strangers outside his apartment. He asserts his feelings, and
Tobias Wolff’s memoir, “This Boy’s Life”, explores the idea that an individual’s actions can be altered due to the people they are exposed to. The protagonist Jack Wolff lives an impressionable life where he undergoes somewhat of a dilemma in relations to his actions, being incapable of changing for the greater good of himself. The absence of a proper male role model plays a large role on Jack’s actions, though is definitely not the only reason. Jack’s actions are influenced by Rosemary’s abusive and power craving ex-husband Roy, as well as Dwight’s violent and arrogant personality. However, Jack is also responsible for his actions as he chooses to actually undertake them; as well as Rosemary who has not disciplined Jack enough.
Rosemary’s ex-husband Roy thrives on having power over others, which is a major reason as to why Jack acts how he does. Despite the fact that Roy seems nice towards Jack and occasionally “drives into the desert to shoot at cans and look for ore”, Roy actually has an alcoholic and abusive side to him. Roy’s abusive and power thriving attitude is used only against Rosemary, who is held in place by Roy’s “threats and occasional brutality”. Granting all this, Jack “thought Roy was what a man should be”, which leads to him developing a desire for power. A significant section of the memoir which demonstrates this is when Roy gives Jack a Winchester .22 rifle – a ‘turning point’ in Jacks life. He states that “[he] needed that rifle, for itself and for the way it completed [him] when [he] held it”. This quote depicts the fact that Jack lacks the feeling of power, which is a trait that he is given by this rifle. Roy’s power over others is achieved in an unjust manner, which is what Jack now possesses due to his Winchester .22. This is evident while he is pointing his gun at strangers outside his apartment. He asserts his feelings, and