Andre George
English 1101
Mr. Sherling
13 Dec 2013 Rule of the Bone and Bone’s lust for Independence Independence is a growing teenager’s dream. Liberation from the common thought that teenagers need someone for assistance is the main goal transitioning from adolescence into adulthood. That free will, eliminating structure or household laws remains what teenagers strive for, having self-assurance that they are mature and can handle the world around them. Numerous teens can also attest to their previous hardships growing as a sign of them reaching a point that they don’t need an adult figure, however in our cultural society, teenagers are seen as still children, needing guidance, provision, and moral support because they are physically and mentally incapable of taking care of their own necessities, but the main character, Bone, an inner-city youth in the novel, Rule of the Bone, challenges the deep-rooted thoughts of cultural society when he moves out of his parents’ house after his countless terrible experiences and begins life on his own. He begins to show the audience that age is not a requirement in decision making and starts to show his independence at an early age. This theme, of gaining complete independence, is the most significant aspect in the novel as Bone over the course of the novel, develops plus matures during his captivating journeys and becomes more aware of the world, and also starts to find himself through the course of his actions.
Chappie's actions in the beginning of the story are typical of any teenager in his situation. He's being molested by his stepfather Ken, has a drug addicted stepmother that he can’t possibly hold a conversation with. After the molestations occur, Chappie eagerly wants to tell his mother but he's afraid of the authority they have over him. Chappie feels trapped, He then rebels against his parents because he's under duress, and feels as if he doesn't need them anymore. Along with the fact that he now thinks that since they aren’t being correct parent figures he can fend for himself and be his own parental figure. Chappie then looks to assume the role of an adult and moves on with his life. For example, the scene after he finds the gun and started stealing and gets caught, he leaves and then shoots up the bed as a sign to his parents saying "I don't need you, I'm on my own", then he runs away and lives with his friend Russ in which he was already hanging with, as quoted by in the book “I hauled my stuff over to Russ’s place and stayed there until the last of the coins and the weed ran out” and even while staying with Russ While Chappie was living with the bikers he had to protect himself, he had no role model or parental figure leading him to make good decisions in life, so he became his own parental figure. At this point, Chappie becomes a whole new person, even though he was young, and just in the eighth grade, his decision to move shows his independence. Chappie starts to modify his habits and take responsibility of his life, as quoted from the novel “rest out there on the deck I matte up incredibly calm and almost old, like I was an aged(a) and had already lived my whole life and was only waiting just about now to die” reflects how he has grown as a person through the course of the novel. Chappie asserts his independent lifestyle even more even after he decides leave Russ at the Ridgeway's house, just as he did with his parents at his own house. Chappie decides to leave Russ because he thinks Russ is holding back his progression, so he when he parts ways with Russ, he acts the same way after, he shoots up the windows in the house. He also never told Russ that he found a gun inside the Ridgeway’s house. The significance of the guns he has found links to his stride for freedom. The weapons allow Chappie to have total control, as if he was now a parent. Therefore, he finding and keeping the guns to himself was a