![]() Authority figures being abusive of their powers, and not who they are thought to be, is an important issue in Jasper Jones. The learning that underneath someone’s appearance there can be a very jarring reality is becoming increasingly more prevalent, particularly regarding authorities. Peeling back the moral exterior of people reveals horrific realities. The town of Corrigan and its people certainly have secrets, many of which are revealed to Charlie throughout the course of Jasper Jones. Charlie’s newfound confusion with why and how there are such sinister people in the world and navigating from being more sheltered as a child to suddenly learn about horrible things is still relevant for today’s teenagers. The repetition of the third person ‘it’ shows how foreign the concept of ‘sorry’ is to some. The metaphor of the ‘break in their circuits’ and ‘hole in their heart’ shows that the darkness is a flaw, a problem in the fabric of what makes people human. “And the folks who trouble me, the ones who, through some break in their circuits, through some hole in their heart, can’t feel it, or say it, or scratch it into trees”. There are certain things that have no explanation. The inexplicableness and incomprehensibility of the darkness of humanity also plagues Charlie, and many other teenagers trying to make sense of the world. This also ties in with the issue of racism and prejudice that was extremely prevalent in the 1960s but has become less so. Jasper was already aware of this, as is evident in the resigned tone he used when telling Charlie about his beating “They don’t need a reason mate… they reckon I got something to do with Laura being missing”. The police physically abusing Jasper also opened Charlie’s eyes to the fact that authority figures aren’t always able to be trusted, nor will they always do the right thing. The use of explicit language is realistic and demonstrates that Silvey was not afraid to write a truly honest novel that was indicative of young adults. He is completely at a loss for an explanation for some of the crueler aspects of society and people, which is a very real aspect of growing up and learning about the evil there is. The repetition of the word ‘how’ expresses Charlie’s confusion and lack of understanding of the darkness of humanity. How could they turn up, day after day, to do the unspeakable? And how could they return home of an evening, no words or shame or remorse tumbling out of their mouths? What did Sylvia Likens do to deserve this? Or was it just shit luck and chance?”. “And how was it that Gertrude Baniszewski could seduce so many children into committing these acts? ![]() The brutal and horrendous murder of Sylvia Likens plagued Charlie with thoughts about the evil in the world and considered historical monsters, he became aware of more sinister events in the world, which ultimately led to him questioning the world even more. Silvey is to be praised for the ways he has been able to create a very real character that represents contemporary teenagers and their issues. This is relatable for current teenagers as broken marriages and divorce are becoming more common, even more now than when Jasper Jones was set, as divorce rates have doubled since then.įor Charlie, his parents’ expired and worn relationship was a rarity, as the belief back then was that people were ‘married for life’. With this event, he knows that nothing can go back to how it used to be. I really do”, the ‘walls’ represent Charlie’s childhood and youth. “The walls might be falling, but I feel calm. This experience is something many current teenagers would be able to relate to, there’s a certain turning point of adolescence when they know everything is changing.Īnother significant event in Charlie’s transition from childhood to adulthood was when he saw his mother having an affair. It symbolizes him being reborn as a new person, almost like he can sense that by going with Jasper Jones his life will change dramatically. Seen as rebellious and solitary, Jasper is a distant figure of danger and intrigue to Charlie.Ĭharlie sneaking out for the first time is described as “a little like a foal being born”, which is used to portray Charlie as an innocent child experiencing the world for the first time. His visitor is Jasper Jones, the outcast of Corrigan. This novel begins with Charlie Bucktin being awoken by an urgent knock on the window of his room.
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