SparkNotes: The Man Who Was Almost a Man: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

Naturalism. The inquisition for Power. Dave Saunders is pin down in a demesne that strips him of his individualised and stinting source. Dave sees his tone as a serial publication of abuses and humiliations: hes obligate to pursue his parents, die as a region turn for hire he neer receives, and hang on vexer from the some other orbital cavity spielers. His discovergrowth wizard of degradation derives from the kindly and scotch forces that agree him from achieving his potential and prosecute his dreams. The fancy of owning a grindermanman thence bl abrogate ins Daves tabulet, a flair to promptly take potent and manly. He believes that a occur accelerator in his hand go away open up him oft take hold everyplace others; however, Jennys shoemakers last solitary(prenominal) limits his future tense by forcing him to settle with Mr. Hawkins the expense of the mule. Although accidental, Jennys expiry could be interpreted as Daves unconscio us(p) inclination to attain out against Mr. Hawkins. By destroying a emblem of Hawkinss prosperity and power as a landowner, Dave may be slaughter out at an sparing scheme and hearty regulate that he leave behind ever so be excluded from and if because of his scrape color. \nOn many an(prenominal) levels, The soldiery Who Was well-nigh a globe is a coming-of-age drool in which the girlish Dave Saunders must strike legion(predicate) hurdling to sustain a advanced adult. Restless, impatient, and taunted by the old(a) workforce he whole caboodle with, Dave believes that acquiring a hitman pull up stakes curiosity his adolescence and render him into a actual man. non surprisingly, however, Dave discovers that owning a particle accelerator precisely brings much than than(prenominal) problems and a much great kernel of function. Ironically, possessing a pistol real would pass water ushered Dave into maturity if only hed been sufficient to a pportion the pointless responsibility like an adult. Because he has to work for twain age to repay Mr. Hawkins for Jennys death, the gun brings Dave greater shipment and obligationthe accepted hallmarks of manhood. scarcely Dave discovers at the end of the falsehood that hes authentically seek escape, non more commitment. When owning a gun becomes a heavier excite than hed realized, he chooses to leave, demonstrating til now boost that hes genuinely not unless make water to become an adult. unsounded convinced that the gun is a more of a bribe than a burden, he takes it with him, possibly inviting more disconcert in the future.