Jason's Coming-of-Age in Connection to his Parents
In the first chapter of Black Swan Green , Jason Taylor's life seems as though it's controlled by the oppressive forces of British secondary school. He seems hopeless, desperate for the approval of others yet hindered by his "posh" background and infamous stutter. By the last chapter, the tides have turned entirely as Jason is no longer trying to be submissive in an effort to "look good" to the popular kids and failing, he's acting in defiance of them -- and succeeding. As a coming-of-age novel, this massive shift in Jason's personality is quite significant, but what exactly caused this transformation? While there are certainly a plethora of life-changing events throughout the story, Jason's parents, or perhaps their absence, has a direct connection to his social behavior. Early on in the book, Jason's parents are quite present in his life. When Jason goes to play outside with Dean, his mother is right there at the door keeping her eyes on hi...