April Morning Symbolism
Images and symbolism of youth and a “coming of age” are the themes in April Morning. Describe and analyze Fast’s use of this dual-symbolism in both Adam’s character and in the emergence of a young nation.
The “coming of age” means different things to different people. In the novel April Morning we observe 15 year old Adam Cooper’s rapid transformation from boyhood to manhood, while our great nation begins a metamorphosis of it’s own. The significant events that can sum up these changes include the death of Adam’s father, the brief comfort and advice from Solomon Chandler and the experiences during the battle against the redcoat soldiers that changed our nation forever. A boy named Adam Cooper had just heard that the redcoats were going to attack and he was ready to sign the muster book. When a young boy goes to war, and sees blood, that is when he becomes a man. “…but I had been Pontiac at least a dozen times, and I had scalps hidden in my room to prove it.” (pg. 192) The game, Pontiac, had been a favorite of the boys in town. They made circles with “red coats” on the outside and “Indians” were …show more content…
At the age of 15 you still have much to learn from your father and are not prepared to be the one to take care of everything and make sure that your family is ok. “Then he saw me in the open door, ran to me, and threw himself sobbing into my arms, hanging onto me as if the only thing left in the whole world.” (pg. 104) Adam’s younger brother, Levi, realizes his father is dead and the responsibility to comfort him and take care of him rests solely on Adam. This is what being “the man of the house” means. Since Adam is now a man, he has to figure out how to do this on his own to save his family. Even if that means fighting in a war and maybe even dying to protect the ones that you
The “coming of age” means different things to different people. In the novel April Morning we observe 15 year old Adam Cooper’s rapid transformation from boyhood to manhood, while our great nation begins a metamorphosis of it’s own. The significant events that can sum up these changes include the death of Adam’s father, the brief comfort and advice from Solomon Chandler and the experiences during the battle against the redcoat soldiers that changed our nation forever. A boy named Adam Cooper had just heard that the redcoats were going to attack and he was ready to sign the muster book. When a young boy goes to war, and sees blood, that is when he becomes a man. “…but I had been Pontiac at least a dozen times, and I had scalps hidden in my room to prove it.” (pg. 192) The game, Pontiac, had been a favorite of the boys in town. They made circles with “red coats” on the outside and “Indians” were …show more content…
At the age of 15 you still have much to learn from your father and are not prepared to be the one to take care of everything and make sure that your family is ok. “Then he saw me in the open door, ran to me, and threw himself sobbing into my arms, hanging onto me as if the only thing left in the whole world.” (pg. 104) Adam’s younger brother, Levi, realizes his father is dead and the responsibility to comfort him and take care of him rests solely on Adam. This is what being “the man of the house” means. Since Adam is now a man, he has to figure out how to do this on his own to save his family. Even if that means fighting in a war and maybe even dying to protect the ones that you