After Tom meet his new love, "he pretended he did not know she was present, and began to 'show off' in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some time; but by and by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous gymnastic performances, he glanced aside and saw that the little girl was wending her way toward the house" (419). It is very obvious that Tom is a young boy in love and cannot show his true feelings.
We have learned that it is okay for young ladies to show emotion, but only in a positive light. For the two stories that we had read about young boys, they show all kinds of emotion. As in the passage above, we know that Tom has feelings for this new girl, but he is unable to show his true emotion. Instead, he acts out by doing gymnastics to get the attention because in that time, young men were not allowed to show true emotion. Even today, men are not allowed to show their emotion, as they say "boys don't cry". This saying is still followed today and boys are suppose to grow up to be strong men. This certain stereotype is still around today and told to young boys.
I really like how you mention that boys are not able to show their true emotions. We know they have emotions, I mean they are human. I also like how you talk about how the "boys don't cry" is still around today! That is so totally true!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you talked about in your last paragraph. I find it really interesting the differences in the way girls and boys show their emotions and what they are "allowed" to show. I loved this part in the book when he was trying to show off for the girl but doesn't want anyone to see. This is so true about guys because they want the attention and want to be noticed, yet they don't want others to see them expressing themselves. It is so contradicting!
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