TEXT-RESPONSE ESSAY SAMPLE

Should a boy be considered a man because of his age?

In the novel, ‘The Underdog’ by Markus Zusak, Cameron Wolfe explores adolescence through the events and people in his life during one winter. The question, Should a boy be considered a man because of his age? is a difficult one; one that does not have a straightforward answer and is not clearly answered in the novel. White Australian society deems that a boy is a man at the age of eighteen. In other cultures, manhood is recognised after a boy completes a ritual. Manhood is a lot of things; the least of which has to do with age. When a person is respectful, responsible and aware of the needs of others, we can say that a boy can be considered a man.

T: Respect is a value that is learned and earned and is important in order to become a good man. E: We see in our media too many times, people who have lost respect and shown disrespect. These people are often portrayed as role models or people who are in significant positions. When we are confronted with these images, we can be discouraged from our own journey to being respectful adults. E: Cameron is aware of how disrespectful he has been to women when he looks at the Christmas catalogue. He is angry that he “could be so weak and stare like some sick degenerate”. He wants a relationship with Rebecca Conlan to “find the place where her voice came from…I wanted to be nice to her”. L: Being respectful of others and being aware that how we think of others are both significant to becoming a man.

T: Adolescence and responsibility seem to oppose one another, but it is important for the adolescent male to learn from his mistakes, lest he be doomed to repeat them. E: As boys journey through adolescence, more responsibility is given to them. Some meet this challenge enthusiastically while others want to return to the boyhood behaviour of not being accountable for their actions. E: Cameron desperately wants to earn money to save up for a stereo but being a wage-earner requires responsibility. He loses his job as a paperboy for being irresponsible and his Dad has doubts about whether he can do the responsible thing: “I’m a plumber, not a circus clown, or a zookeeper”. Cameron proved to his Dad that he could work responsibly. He “wanted nothing for free” and was determined to work hard for it. L: Having the responsibility of employment in order to purchase goods and services, is essential for most men who contribute to the well-being of others.

T: Many boys are unaware of how their behaviour affects others. E: What might seem fun, or a good idea, or a way to pass the time, can keep males in a state of perpetual boyhood.  E: Ruben only saw the funny side of stealing a give way sign, but his younger brother, began to see how dangerous this act could be. Cameron even dreamt about the consequence of stealing the sign. Who is the one moving from boyhood to manhood? Ruben the older brother who is supposed to be leading by example, or Cameron who starts to the see the serious consequences of his actions? L: Awareness of others in our journey to manhood develops our sense of caring for others which become essential for men to look after their families and contribute to the world around them.

There are many factors that contribute to being a man some would argue that respect, responsibility and awareness are not the three most important. However, these three elements are core to developing in adolescents a sense of the growing world around them. That  the world is bigger than just one’s wants and needs. Developing a simple understanding of healthy manhood values can help make the transition from boyhood to manhood a positive experience.

The journey from boyhood to manhood is different for everyone. There is little argument that this journey's end is marked by age and is more to do with a state of mind. The elements of respect, responsibility and awareness can give direction to young males as they navigate the turbulent  waters of adolescence. At least Cameron Wolfe thought so.