Essraa's Coming of Age Contemplations

  One of the key themes I've noticed in Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead is the stark difference from traditional or classic coming of age novels. The way the plot or story summary of Benji’s maturing and course of coming of age is really “anti-bildungsroman” in a way, as in the shift from Benji’s childhood to adulthood identity isn’t as dramatic as we usually see in other novels. Benji’s progress altogether is pretty resistant to the concept that coming of age is formed and produced through extraordinary change to one’s life, and even if he only wants a fine attunement of change, Benji still displays a new outlook for his future.  Benji is introduced initially as insecure, passive and invisible, however, he wants to transform his personality over the summer before heading back to school, which is very relatable to most people who change to become more self-confident and pleased with themselves in all. Being 15, self-improvement and change is a vital part of transition to Benj...

  Throughout the novel, Jason Taylor has always seemed to push himself to be the person he’s not, however, his coming of age highlights the fact that you can only really be yourself. For the majority of the novel, the reader follows Jason’s narrative, learning about the established social hierarchy at school through names. In fact, a main motif of the book is the emphasis on distinction of kids through their names, which serve as their place in the social world of school. These are distinguished through students using either first names, middle names, last names or insults towards each other to serve the purpose of separating them on a social level. For example, Moran is called Moron for no reason other than the fact that the spelling is similar. Jason applies this name rule to himself in many ways as well: Hangman, which is indicative of his stammer, Maggot when he feels down and useless, Unborn Twin who is an imaginary perception/sidekick of Jason’s essentially and Eliot Bolivar,...