Role model

Something interesting I noticed thought the book was Jason's lack of a good, constant role model. Jason's dad and mother both have their positive moments and influences on him, but they both also have sporadic negative interactions with Jason.

Jason's dad isn't a great role model because he acts differently in each situation he is placed in. Examples of his changing behavior are the way he acts when taking Jason on his business trip. Although he gives Jason money and eventually does fly a kite with him, he does not exemplify a good parent when he blows off Jason and the movies, and when he runs into his boss and his whole demeanor changes. His always changing attitude makes it hard to be a strong role model for Jason.

Although Jason's mom has more moments of being a better role model than Jason's dad, she is not a perfect role model either. She has strong moments, such as handling the three girls trying to steal from her art gallery and taking Jason to the movies. But the poor role model things over whelm the good, such as not being able to hold her own against her husband and being in competition with her husband constantly.

Masked

“Often I think boys don’t become men. Boys just get papier-mâchéd inside a man’s mask. Sometimes you can tell the boy is still in there” (p. 127).

This quote embodies the context of Black Swan Green. During the thirteen months the reader follows Jason Taylor though his life, there is a main concern over Jason growing up. One could argue that Jason started the text as a young naive boy, and that throughout his journey, he grew up and passed over into manhood.

I would care to disagree.

Jason did indeed start his journey as a young naive boy, and I would argue for the fact that he finished the book in the same fashion. Comparing where the book started to where the book ended, Jason did begin to more adult decisions, but it was clear that he still had some childish motives and ways of dealing with issues, such as destroying the calculator at the end of the book. Jason was faced with multiple adult situation in this book, including Tom Yew’s death, his parent’s divorce, and consistent bullying, and these shaped him into a man, but did not replace the boy inside of him.

I'm Doing Great

It's sad to think school is the last thing I do

I used to wake up early
and wake up my parents too

I'm used to sleeping through my alarm
and being to tired to recognize the beeping

I used to waltz down stairs
and turn on all the lights

I'm used to showering with my eyes closed
and being to tired to shave my legs

I used to wear my favorite dress
and pick out hair ribbons to match

I'm used to not having time to do laundry
and wearing the first skirt I find

I used to sit outside waiting for the school bus
and smile when i saw it coming down the road

I'm used to running to the car late
and making my self-car sick doing homework

I used to talk with my friends on the bus
and ask what they watched on tv

I'm used to doing reading with the radio on
and making shaky highlighter lines in my books

I used to skip into school
and giggle when I saw my teacher

I'm used to walking with my head down
and reviewing test question while I eat breakfast

I used to raise my hand during class
and try to answer questions

I'm used to keeping my answers to my self
and sharing the bare minimum when I'm called on

I used to sit down at lunch
and talk with whoever I sat next to

I'm used to texting my friends before lunch
and making sure I have someone to sit with

I used to get on the bus
and be upset I had to go home

I'm used to not going home until dark
and cringing because I have to go back the next day

I used to do my homework
and then watch tv

I'm used to equations circling my head
and reading until my eyes are dry

I used to pack my bag before bed
and fall asleep

I'm used to doing more work
and falling asleep with my laptop on my stomach

I used to enjoy going to school
and then do all again the next day

I'm used to dreading the idea of school
and being so overwhelmed that I can't think straight
But its ok, because everyone tells me I'm doing great.

Outcast

The Gypsies, similar to Jason, are outcasts in Black Swan Green.

The Gypsies are considered to be weird, and to a degree dangerous, by the townspeople. They are constantly looked down on and found to be treated similar to animals. People disagree with their lifestyle and find a problem with the Gypsies living on the towns land but not participating in society. The gypsies are ignored and treated disrespectfully. Examples of these superstitions about gypsies in the text include the way masons parent reacted when learning he spoke with one while they were at work, the way Jason immediately assumes the gypsies he runs into are dangerous, and how the town bans together against the gypsies in the town hall.

Jason, like the gypsies, is constantly suffering from bullying. He suffers with bullies at school and out of school, constantly being made to feel that he is less than them and that he isn't worth anything. The gypsies struggle with the town is symbolic of Jason's struggles. Once Jason interacts with the gypsies he sees that they are nice people, and the previous stereo types he had could have been incorrect. This could be foreshadowing upcoming events for Jason, such as the bullies and his classmates seeing that he isn't,and shouldn't be labeled as, an outcast.

Living in a Borstal

‘But if I sliced Wilcox’s tendons, I’d get sent to Borstal.’

‘Well wakey fucking wakey, sunbeam! Life’s a Borstal!’ (p. 217).

A borstal used to be a type of youth detention center in the United kingdom and there was a similar thing in India called a borstal school. The borstals and borstal schools were intended to reform young people deemed by the court to be seriously delinquent. After borstals were banned in 1982, there was a new set of schooling for the delinquent called youth custody centers instead.

Being sent to borstal would be a awful experience, easily compared to be living a hellish way of life. After telling Jason to slice Wilcox’s tendons, Jason remarks that if he did that, he would get sent to Borstal, clearly somewhere he does not want to go. Norman Bates responded unexpectedly to Jason, telling him that maybe in comparison, life is all sunny and happy. But in reality, life is just a large borstal. People walking around under the constant supervision of someone else. Listening to the orders and directions of someone else. Attempting to retain individuality without upsetting the higher power. 

Making life its own prison.

January Man Found Poem

Be quiet

Pity nobody who matters was around to hear it.

I heard it, so they’d heard me.

Not a snore. A death rattle.

I had no real choice.

Humming a nothing song.

I killed it.

A silent roaring hangs here.

But my head didn’t feel right.

The dark’d shuffled itself.

I couldn’t move.

Dead things show you what you’ll be too one day.

Now I’d stopped moving.

But whatever you do, be quiet.

It’s not that I’ll die that bothers me.

You get used to the cold.

Power is an object, person, or thought having a mental or physical advantage or influence, creating a controlling aspect, over a grouping of people; intellectual or physical strength or force used to condemn certain desired behavior.