Gang or no Gang
When reading the spooks chapter we see Jason have to make a decision. He can either go help Dean or he can be a part of the spooks and just leave Dean there. Both of these choices have consequences and the question we discussed was should he go knock on the door?
While in the moment it doesn't specifically say he knocked on the door, Jason tells us that he "double-backed minutes later, eye to eye with Mr. Blake's door knocker, cacking myself" (140). We learn that he probably did knock as in the next chapter the one scene we see is Ross pushing him off of the bus and everyone laughs. So, did he make the right choice.
I would have to still say yes, he did make the right choice. I have never had the experiences that Jason has and don't give a crap about social hierarchies or anything like that. That was never a thing in the schools I went to so trying to be with the "cool kids" is not something that I can relate to Jason, but I do like that he made the right moral decision. Although the kids did pick on him a lot after this I think it is important that he still did end up having a group of friends. Although in the beginning he wouldn't be caught dead with them, it is important that at the end of the book, an example being in Goose Fair, he is hanging out with the other misfits and he is actually having fun. In the beginning of the novel he had to pretend to be having fun and enjoying what the other kids were doing because he was so worried about his social status and while when his social status is ruined and he starts getting bullied, I still think that in a way, he is happier now. He can just hang out with true friends like Dean Moran and Holly Deblin and doesn't have to worry about self-editing with them.
There are a lot of different choices that Jason had to make in the book and while I never found myself in the same situations that he did, I like all the decisions he made. Breaking the calculator was a thing I wouldn't have done, but it worked and I was actually proud of him. I think that this was one of the more potent coming-of-age novels because it finished with him being more grown up and okay with the way he is at the same time as him still not being done growing up which again goes to how coming-of-age is a process that never ends.
While in the moment it doesn't specifically say he knocked on the door, Jason tells us that he "double-backed minutes later, eye to eye with Mr. Blake's door knocker, cacking myself" (140). We learn that he probably did knock as in the next chapter the one scene we see is Ross pushing him off of the bus and everyone laughs. So, did he make the right choice.
I would have to still say yes, he did make the right choice. I have never had the experiences that Jason has and don't give a crap about social hierarchies or anything like that. That was never a thing in the schools I went to so trying to be with the "cool kids" is not something that I can relate to Jason, but I do like that he made the right moral decision. Although the kids did pick on him a lot after this I think it is important that he still did end up having a group of friends. Although in the beginning he wouldn't be caught dead with them, it is important that at the end of the book, an example being in Goose Fair, he is hanging out with the other misfits and he is actually having fun. In the beginning of the novel he had to pretend to be having fun and enjoying what the other kids were doing because he was so worried about his social status and while when his social status is ruined and he starts getting bullied, I still think that in a way, he is happier now. He can just hang out with true friends like Dean Moran and Holly Deblin and doesn't have to worry about self-editing with them.
There are a lot of different choices that Jason had to make in the book and while I never found myself in the same situations that he did, I like all the decisions he made. Breaking the calculator was a thing I wouldn't have done, but it worked and I was actually proud of him. I think that this was one of the more potent coming-of-age novels because it finished with him being more grown up and okay with the way he is at the same time as him still not being done growing up which again goes to how coming-of-age is a process that never ends.
The right choice isn't always the easiest, and that's why I would've forgiven Jason, even if I might've been a bit disappointed, if he hadn't gone after Dean. However, that's also why I was so proud of him for making the right choice. He had no idea what the consequences might be for him - bullying, getting in trouble with parents, not to mention the rumors they heard about Mr. Blake. Despite this, he stayed loyal to his friend, and I think that was a hard choice but the right one.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jason did make the right choice. I also understand why this choice was so hard for him. I think it is really good that after this chapter he was able to be more of who he actually is. He no longer cared of he was seen hanging out with Dean and they became even closer. His friendship with Dean would have been so different if they has both or just one of them joined the Spokes.
ReplyDeleteI think he also did the right thing in this instance. I think part of what makes Jason a great character is that he doesn't just "do the right thing" 100% of the time like some flawless protagonists do, he shows that he has fears and hesitates and sometimes does the wrong thing, especially in the Goose Fair chapter. But in this instance, I think it's all the more compelling that he chooses the right path after he weighs the consequences and such, and that shows how much he has grown.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the book in general raises many moral questions. Should Jason be trying to fit it with the cool kids or be true to himself and his values? Should he have returned Ross's wallet? Should he have break Neal's calculator? As the book progressed, I saw Jason make better choices and learn from his mistakes and that's why he grew on me as a character.
ReplyDeleteThis moment is one which starts a chain of events leading to one of Jason's important developments of learning to do what he thinks is right and ignore those he doesn't care about. He thinks sticking up for Dean and going back for him is the right thing to do and he does it. From that he makes a friend who shares a similar outlook and ultimately spreads it to Jason as one of his biggest character developments.
ReplyDeleteI was so proud of Jason for going after Dean in this scene. He could've easily just left Dean, but he didn't, which shows that he's beginning to understand what kind of people he should be friends with, rather than just hanging out and being around the "popular" people. I think I would've probably hated Jason if he did end up leaving Dean because Dean is such a good friend to him.
ReplyDeleteI think many examples in the book, including spooks and goose fair, show us that Jason cares about morals and doing the right thing. You make a good case that Jason decided in Spooks that he cares more about the right thing than about being accepted by the gang.
ReplyDeleteYes. The friendship he gained with Dean was better for him than anything he could have gotten out of the spooks. One true friend who can offer you support is enough to get through a lot of trials, and is more valuable and rare than any membership in some childish club. That being said I kind of still wish he had gotten all popular and cool while I was reading that...although the cool loner vibe he achieved at the end was even better.
ReplyDeleteJason decides to go back for Dean because he realizes that Dean would always go back for him. The spooks chapter seems like a failure because it leads to Jason being kicked down the social ladder, but in the long run it's good that Jason learns who his real friends are. I really wanted Jason to pass the spooks test just to prove that he could do it, but honestly I can't see him fitting into their club.
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