Jason's Coming of Age as seen through Bridal Path and Goose Fair- Black Swan Green

    Through Black Swan Green Jason transforms from a shy, quiet kid desperate to fit in to a hard, authoritative figure in the span of a year, at the same time abandoning his fear of Hangman and Maggot. One example of his transformation is his interactions with people, and the figurative "trials" he is put through in the book. For example, the chapter Bridle Path shows him on an Odyssey like adventure where he encounters many different people on the path. His reactions to each of these events show the stark contrast between his actions then, and by the end of the book. The first encounter he has is with a man and his three dogs. "'You're goadin' my boys!' I swallowed. Laws down the bridle path are different to main road laws 'I don't appreciate that' (71)". Jason simply replies "They're...beautiful animals". He clearly doesn't say the right thing, as it further ignites the mans anger. The man then correctly deduces that Jason is a "townie", and proceeds to set his dogs on him. However, the man and the dogs seemed to leave no trace, questioning if they ever were real in the first place. This is reminiscent of Jason's ethereal encounters on the frozen lake with the ghost and the strange night with the old woman that healed his injured ankle. Scenes like this represent the unknown, the unfamiliar. Scenes like this show Jason's fear of being ousted, of being recognized as different by someone else, and being persecuted for it. The man notices that Jason was a "townie", who to him is unsavory, and set his dogs upon him. This is his biggest fear after all, people discovering him as "Stutterboy" or Elliot Bolivar. Jason isn't being himself, he is playing a character to appease the other boys' expectations of him.  

    Later in the chapter, after the brutal clash between Ross Wilcox and Grant Burch, we get a moment with Dean and Jason, where Dean shares the problems he's been experiencing at home. While on the surface it seems like a break between the events on the bridle path, it itself is also a trial, one that Jason sadly fails. After Dean explains his father's alcohol problem, Dean asks Jason, clearly wanting him to respond, saying "Oh, how am I s'posed to know?"(81). Jason doesn't respond. He lets the silence hang in the air. This isn't Hangman holding his sentences hostage, it's him intentionally not answering the question. Jason doesn't even consider sharing some of his own problems, like Hangman, or the pressures he feels from his peers to fit in, or his parents straining marriage. Dean, clearly disappointed, leaves Jason after he falls asleep to continue on his own. This is another example of a failed test, and it really illustrates Jason's character. Jason, who is so afraid of fitting in and not being weak, ignores Deans pleas for connection. 

    All of this has changed by the time Goose Fair happens. Jason stands up for himself, acting cool and nonchalant to the bullies. "'Aw, looking after baby sister, are we?" Gary Drake with Ant Little and Darren Croome. Moran sort of flinched. Maxine sort of wilted. Stick your darts, urged Unborn Twin, into their eyeballs. "Yeah. We are. What the fuck is it to you?" Gary Drake wasn't expecting that" (245). Jason, who definitely wasn't hindered by Hangman, stand up to the antagonists. This was starkly different from the Jason we saw in "bridle path", where Dean did most of the talking to Ross. Jason seems very sure of himself. While we don't see Jason and Dean having anymore deep conversations, we do see Jason treat Dean with much more respect, even calling him "Dean" instead of "Moran". He also isn't afraid of being seen with him, and no longer talks down to him as he did earlier in the book. He isn't afraid of being "got" anymore. Overall, these two chapters in contrast show Jason's transformation into a more confident character, not someone who is meant to conform with the harsh rules of the posse. 

Comments

  1. RicoApril 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM

    I definitely agree that Jason underwent a transformation during the book, and I like how you've connected it to some of the more bizarre scenes like the man with the dogs and the sour aunt. As you mentioned, they represent Jason's fears which he ultimately conquers.

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  2. JessyApril 22, 2025 at 7:08 AM

    Hey Connor, I liked how you framed Jason’s journey through Black Swan Green as a series of trials that shape his growth, it really brings out the hero’s journey vibe. The comparison between the Bridle Path and Goose Fair chapters highlights how far he’s come in learning to stand up for himself and others. The moment with Dean on the path was especially powerful, showing that emotional bravery is just as important as physical courage. Nice!

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  3. Ruby MitchellApril 22, 2025 at 9:21 AM

    I think it's so interesting how you point out that the events of Goose Fair act as additional trials for Jason. These two chapters side by side are such good representations of Jason's growth throughout the novel, and I think you make a really good point about the fact that Jason passes the trials at the Goose Fair. He doesn't act as much for the approval of other people, and feels more comfortable in himself, which lead him to make better decisions than he did in Bridal Path.

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  4. MitchellApril 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM

    I do love those moments where Jason is able to convincingly act "hard" to the kids who want to bully him, like the delicious moment during "Goose Fair" at the darts game. There's also the hilarious moment when he's in the stationery closet in "Disco" when he makes the younger kids panic by showing them he's no longer in his "Maggot phase." It's cool to see our guy get a little swagger, and it's true that he HAS become "harder" at this point, once he realizes that "what you fight *with* are words"--he doesn't actually have to FIGHT Drake, if his words can get him to STFU.

    But while he has become a BIT of a "hard-knock" at this point, I do think it's important to note that he is in no way becoming a bully, or a violent person--his hardness is all defensive, called for by the circumstances, a way to push back against the bullying. But he's ALSO still "soft," in all the ways we love about Jason: he uses the word "beautiful" with Holly Deblin, not worrying if it's a "gay" word to use; he says he's not going to cry at the end, but I'm pretty sure he's starting to cry (so am I, most of the times I reread this scene, so fair enough!). We don't want Jason to turn into Ross Wilcox or Pluto Noak--but we don't want him to be a "human punching-bag" either, to use his own phrase when answering Holly's question about "what happened" to him.

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  5. PieterApril 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM

    Yeah fear definitely does play a part in coming of age. It hardens people and leaves them with lasting impacts that much can be learned from. I like the way you visualize Jason's encounters with fear as trials. This is definitely what is making him stronger internally.

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  6. leoApril 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM

    I like how you bring out the "Hero's Journey"-esque narrative contour in Black Swan Green. It helps bind together chapters that feel somewhat disconnected. I also like how you use more obscure pieces of evidence to justify your claims, like when the man and the dogs completely disappear as if they never existed.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MahdiApril 28, 2025 at 12:26 PM

    Hey Connor, I like how you connected Jason's struggle to speak as a result of his fear of being a foreigner and how he came to embrace who he was. Jason is now confident and is unapologetic for who he is, which allows him to stand up for himself and not have other speak for him, as you mentioned. Nice post!

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