This Boy's Life Tobias Wolff Analysis
This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff
i. “I had my own dreams of transformation...”
‘The reader feels that Toby and his mother are never going to be able to improve their lives.’ Do you agree?
OR
ii. ‘This Boy’s Life is not only about hardship; it is also about determination and resourcefulness.’
Discuss.
Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life positions its readers to question the ability of Tobias and his mother to ‘change [their] luck’. In the midst of the post-war conservative backlash the pair are caged by societal norms that prevent them from acheiving their ‘dreams of transformation.’ Furthermore, Tobias’ impracticality and sense of entitlement lead him to reject opportunities. Despite this, the memoir ends on an optimistic note. The reader closes the novel with the belief that the lessons the pair have learned throughout their journey may offer them a chance to improve their lives.
The societal norms and expectations of the 1950’s post-war America inhibit Tobias and his mother’s ability to transform their lives. Toby’s sense of self worth is completely broken by his inability to meet the era’s stereotypes of masculinity. The notion that he ‘could not break …show more content…
He is ‘welcomed’ by the family, yet he does nothing to repay their kindness. The troubles he causes them though his actions are forgivable, but his price and inability to take responsibility for his own wrongdoings destroy his chances of remaining in his adoptive home. Tobias refuses to apologise for siphoning fuel out of the neighbours’ trucks. This ‘brings shame’ on him and incites resentment from the Bolgers who have offered him a chance to change his future. Rather than take responsibility for his actions he ‘le[aves] a dummy in [his] place to look sorry...but [he is] nowhere in the neighbourhood.’ This façade of regret ultimately prevents him from finding a new
i. “I had my own dreams of transformation...”
‘The reader feels that Toby and his mother are never going to be able to improve their lives.’ Do you agree?
OR
ii. ‘This Boy’s Life is not only about hardship; it is also about determination and resourcefulness.’
Discuss.
Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life positions its readers to question the ability of Tobias and his mother to ‘change [their] luck’. In the midst of the post-war conservative backlash the pair are caged by societal norms that prevent them from acheiving their ‘dreams of transformation.’ Furthermore, Tobias’ impracticality and sense of entitlement lead him to reject opportunities. Despite this, the memoir ends on an optimistic note. The reader closes the novel with the belief that the lessons the pair have learned throughout their journey may offer them a chance to improve their lives.
The societal norms and expectations of the 1950’s post-war America inhibit Tobias and his mother’s ability to transform their lives. Toby’s sense of self worth is completely broken by his inability to meet the era’s stereotypes of masculinity. The notion that he ‘could not break …show more content…
He is ‘welcomed’ by the family, yet he does nothing to repay their kindness. The troubles he causes them though his actions are forgivable, but his price and inability to take responsibility for his own wrongdoings destroy his chances of remaining in his adoptive home. Tobias refuses to apologise for siphoning fuel out of the neighbours’ trucks. This ‘brings shame’ on him and incites resentment from the Bolgers who have offered him a chance to change his future. Rather than take responsibility for his actions he ‘le[aves] a dummy in [his] place to look sorry...but [he is] nowhere in the neighbourhood.’ This façade of regret ultimately prevents him from finding a new