Coming of Age

The process of coming of age is the most prominent theme in the story and it is represented in a number of ways including the narrative style, the character development, and use of symbols and symbolism.

Millhauser’s decision to use first-person narration in past tense suggests that there is already a remembered aspect to the story. The protagonist of the story is a man who is reminiscing about his childhood. This recollection is dictated through first-person narration, so the reader perceives the story through the mind of the protagonist as a child. This explores the theme of coming of age because the narration often describes the protagonist’s inner thoughts, which coincide with ideas that are associated with growing older. One example of this is the development of the boy’s self-awareness throughout the story. On page 84, after realizing that he is becoming...