cadi's english blog!

     Throughout Sag Harbor , we see Benji striving to grow up at the same pace as his peers but at the same time, he always seems to be trying to hold onto his past. From the first chapter, it's clear that Benji outwardly aspires to reinvent himself as "Ben", a cool and confident kid who's up to date with trends. However, he also seems like he's just a kid at his core, insisting on riding his too-small bicycle and sticking to other old traditions. His relationship with Reggie also reflects his "kid at heart" perspective since at the beginning, he still sticks to Reggie somewhat but separates from him as he matures and learns throughout the summer. The way he sticks to tradition and doesn't stray outside of his comfort zone at this point makes me think he doesn't actually seem ready to grow up.     Sag Harbor itself may be part of the reason why Benji finds it hard to make bolder moves to come of age. He sees Sag as the setting of many childhood m...

      Hugo and Holly Deblin are two of the characters in Black Swan Green who seem like they couldn't be more different, but both help shape Jason into who he becomes by the end of the novel. Despite their clearly contrasting personalities, Hugo and Holly also have similarities underlying their differences that help Jason figure out what type of person he wants to be.      The most obvious similarity I noticed between Hugo and Holly is that they both seem eager to act as "mentors" to Jason and give him advice on growing up. Hugo and Holly both appear at points in the novel where Jason seems particularly insecure about himself, and both jump in to help. Beyond that, however, the similarities between Hugo and Holly largely end. Hugo and Holly both enter Jason's situation as friends but Hugo does so with selfish purposes in mind, whereas Holly is genuinely curious and concerned for Jason's well-being amidst getting bullied. These intentions are evident ...

     Throughout much of Fun Home , we see (and cringe at) the tense relationships and uncomfortable interactions between members of the Bechdel family, especially between Alison and her father, Bruce. The strained atmosphere of Alison and Bruce's relationship persists until the very end of the book—specifically until their discussion in the car after coming out to each other. This conversation is definitely a moment of peak awkwardness between Alison and Bruce but it's also one of the last such moments, as we see Alison and Bruce becoming comfortable and close with each other in the last few months of Bruce's life. In this regard, the conversation is a turning point in the novel and a major step forward in Alison's coming of age.     Despite retaining the awkwardness of prior events, this scene is unique in that we see Alison and Bruce being open with each other, marking a significant development in their relationship. As a result, the uneasiness between th...

Dr. Nolan's empathy, relatability, and supportiveness set her apart from other characters in The Bell Jar , contributing to her role as one of the most influential figures in Esther's recovery. While Esther is drowning in uncertainty and doubt, Dr. Nolan is the only character she completely trusts, acting as a role model and mother figure to her. From the beginning of their relationship, Esther recognizes something unique about Dr. Nolan and values her presence. She notes how Dr. Nolan is "a cross between Myrna Loy and [her] mother". This sense of motherly authority combined with the relatability of a younger person makes Dr. Nolan easier for Esther to respect, understand, and trust. In addition, Dr. Nolan's identity as a professional woman makes her a role model for Esther. In this regard, she's almost the exact opposite of Esther's mother. Mrs. Greenwood reinforces the sexual double standard and encourages her daughter to conform, while Dr. Nolan challen...

     One pattern I found interesting about The Catcher in the Rye is how the story is "bookended" by Holden's conversations with influential teachers in his life. The two conversations are similar on the surface, but their drastic differences are the main indicators to Holden's character and growth throughout the story. These indications reveal what would probably be the best strategy for framing advice to Holden in a way that wouldn't cause him to dismiss you as another phony, and prove that The Catcher in the Rye is, in fact, a coming-of-age novel.     The similarities between the two conversations are what set the background to display their striking differences. Both conversations take place between Holden and one of his teachers regarding concern for Holden's education and future. Both teachers touch on Holden's expulsion from Pencey and how Holden's future won't look promising unless he makes a stronger effort to do well in school. Beyond th...

      Becky Albertalli's novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda uses solid views on maturity, adulthood, and social conformity to depict how the main character, Simon Spier, figures out his identity as a gay teenager. At the beginning of the novel, Simon, closeted and anonymous, is secretly emailing another closeted and anonymous student at his school going by "Blue". As Simon and Blue are getting closer, their emails are found by a classmate who threatens to reveal their relationship. The novel depicts Simon maturing as he begins to understand ideas about himself and others that he'd never understood before. For example, Simon gets an increasingly clear view of what kind of person he wants to be as the novel goes on. At one point in the book, he realizes how little he knows about his closest friends so he decides to become more mindful of the people in his life, making a conscious effort to get to know them better. The book also draws a strong correlation between ...