The difference between Jason in the first “January Man” and the final “January Man” are absolutely shocking. More than that though, I noticed a significant difference in Jason during the final “January Man” than during all of the other chapters in the book. While I think looking at that final chapter and comparing it to the first chapter can help you really see all the development made to his character, you can also compare his character to one chapter before and still see a big difference. I think David Mitchell could be showing just how much divorce can age a child by having Jason’s inner monologue seem even more aged after just two weeks.
I think the passage on page 286 when Jason is observing a swan flying over the pond perfectly encapsulates the feeling of a parents separation aging you. Specifically, Jason describes the swan swooping towards its reflection in the water, but hovering over it before violently crashing down. I think the reflection could represent the truth Jason is oblivious to, and how he sees so many clues yet is still hit with his father’s news. “Ducks heckled the swan, but a swan only notices what it wishes to” basically, the truth is right in front of his face, but he is just a child and therefore doesn’t notice or comprehend the more adult issues going on in his life (Mitchell 286). The entire story is filled with such childish and immature concerns like school popularity, that the news of his parents divorce pushes Jason towards maturity too soon. Another way this is represented is when he sees Philip Phelps chasing Grant Burch in the forest and notes that he will never see them again. I think they could still represent the immaturity that Jason is leaving behind. In fact, I think leaving Black Swan Green is very representative of leaving his immaturity and innocence behind.
In another sense, I think this passage could also relate to Jason’s father. “She bent and unbent her neck exactly how Dad does after a very long time” Jason says describing the swan (Mitchell 286). The swan could also be representative of Jason’s dad and how he is completely oblivious to Jason’s bullying because he is too entrenched in the affair business. Even when Jason goes on the work trip with him, his father is constantly being pulled away by work and forgetting about his own son. This can also show how many parents are unfortunately absent when going through marital problems because they forget the child will be just as affected, if not more, than they are. In this quote, the swan is stretching its neck like it’s finally getting a break from hard work. This reminds me of Jason’s father when he came back to get his stuff, and Jason described him as seeming sad but much more at peace. While all the hard work of constantly worrying and dealing with conflict has finished for his dad, all the trouble is beginning for Jason since he has been pushed too early into the realities of the world and will inevitably have trouble coming to terms with such a big change in his life. His dad is stretching his neck and recovering, oblivious to the fact that Jason will never be the same again.
Good comments on the various implications of this surreal swan water-landing scene at the end of the novel--and it's additionally fitting as a reflection of all of these insights Jason has gained that the setting is the very same lake where, one year earlier, he was doing his best to impress these "hard" guys in the game of British Bulldogs.
ReplyDeleteIt's also a funny punchline of sorts to Jason's repeated citation of the "local joke" in BSG, that there are no swans there. Like so much at the end of this book, Jason is learning that his factual information and certainty is not always correct. Turns out there ARE swans in Black Swan Green. Just as he's leaving, and won't have to make the joke anymore. (It's not that funny a joke, and it falls flat whenever he says it.)
Great post! I really like how you described the change in Jason's attitude and character from the first chapters to the last. I also totally agree about the divorce part. I think the swan is a really good way to connect how Jason feels about the divorce. Since he is now gonna be affected by it, the swan analogy shows how he didn't think about the divorce before because he was to distracted by popularity but now has matured and is leaving behind all of that. I think your post really brings together the end of the story nicely and shows Jason's coming of age.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love your observation that Jason and his parents-especially his Dad, are blind to each other in different ways. While Jason is consumed in his school's social environment and getting into the Spooks, he's unaware of the scope of his parents marital problems, which leads to divorce. And while the parents are wrapped up in arguing and working, they're oblivious to the fact that Jason is getting mercilessly bullied at school. Great post!
ReplyDeletethis is a great post damn. I really like your line about "“Ducks heckled the swan, but a swan only notices what it wishes to” basically, the truth is right in front of his face, but he is just a child and therefore doesn’t notice or comprehend the more adult issues going on in his life (Mitchell 286)." this post kinda reminds me of the ugly duckling story. Jason is ostracized by his peers for not being cool enough, but in the end he sorta grows above these social issues and it's clear that he has grown in all sorts of ways.
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