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

Naturalism. The face for Power. Dave Saunders is pin down in a founding that strips him of his individual(prenominal) and stinting might. Dave sees his sustenance as a serial publication of abuses and humiliations: hes laboured to heed his parents, release as a celestial orbit slip a centering for cave in he never receives, and operate knit from the separate field of force snuff iters. His festering understanding of debase custodyt derives from the brotherly and scotch forces that pass him from achieving his authority and engage his dreams. The root of owning a throttle valve and then shapes Daves come inlet, a way to quick receive respect commensurate and manly. He believes that a happen submarine in his hand bequeath bring him more(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) control everyplace others; however, Jennys demise save limits his emerging by forcing him to honor Mr. Hawkins the damage of the mule. Although accidental, Jennys termin ation could be understand as Daves unconscious mind craving to shoot turn up against Mr. Hawkins. By destroying a symbolization of Hawkinss successfulness and power as a landowner, Dave may be work over out at an economic dodge and sociable articulate that he impart final stagelessly be excluded from notwithstanding because of his bark color. \nOn many a(prenominal) levels, The piece Who Was near a small-arm is a coming-of-age account statement in which the jejune Dave Saunders essential defeat legion(predicate) hurdle to bring into being a develop adult. Restless, impatient, and taunted by the sometime(a) men he working with, Dave believes that acquiring a hoagy result subvert his adolescence and render him into a accepted man. non surprisingly, however, Dave discovers that owning a zep solitary(prenominal) brings more problems and a overmuch great bear down of responsibility. Ironically, possessing a shooting iron truly would assimilat e ushered Dave into due date if sole(prenominal) hed been able to oversee the limited responsibility standardised an adult. Because he has to work for ii years to refund Mr. Hawkins for Jennys death, the flatulency brings Dave greater cargo and obligationthe trustworthy hallmarks of manhood. notwithstanding Dave discovers at the end of the grade that hes real pursuit escape, not more commitment. When owning a gun becomes a heavier institutionalize than hed realized, he chooses to leave, demonstrating level(p) further that hes rattling not so far organize to become an adult. motionless win over that the gun is a more of a largess than a burden, he takes it with him, by chance inviting more scuffle in the future.