Men and Violence Are Inextricably Linked in This Boy's Life

Men and Violence and inextricably linked in This Boy’s life. Discuss

Violence can be portrayed in a multitude of ways, it can be physical, emotional or psychological, and these forms of violence lead to a variety of consequences. Set in the time of post-war America in the 1950s, Tobias Wolff’s This Boy’s Life depicts men being the perpetrators of violence as a constant recurring theme throughout the text, and it is impossible to escape. Men and violence hand in hand, as you cannot have men without violence, or vice versa, the concept of this combination is simply unavoidable. This historical context of the novel sets expectations for men to be associated with violence and this does not allow for them to be separated. Similarly, men and violence are a predominant theme in relationships such as parental and marital due to men suppressing powerless women. Although the notion of men and violence is predominant, there are few instances where two are untangled shown through some noble individuals. Men and violence are unavoidably linked in This Boy’s Life.

The expectations of the time period of the 1950s are of such that men and violence go hand in hand without any need of justification. Violence was commonly accepted in this time period and it was so common that the absence of violence was commonly accepted in this time period and it was so common that the absence of violence tangled with men may have seemed unusual. This notion of men and violence is perfectly demonstrated through Arthur and Jack’s fight when passer-by spectators do not show any sense of outrage towards the brutal display. This signifies the time period in which the events of