"Being A Man" - Steinbeck's "Flight"
"Being a man" in modern day society refers to many different things. During the time
period of Steinbeck's "Flight" I believe that "being a man" meant taking over
responsibilities of a family without a father, getting married and becoming a familial
provider, and leaving home to provide for yourself, to name a few personal thoughts.
Pepe's father had died and he was helping his mother to take care of his two siblings.
In the beginning of the story when Pepe was behind the barn with his siblings and they
were watching him throw his knife, this almost had the feel of a fatherly picture. Pepe
was spending time intriguing the children and helping to make memories for them. When
his mother found him and told him he would make a trip into town he immediately began
asking questions. "Mama, you will put the hatband on the hat? And the green
handkerchief, Mama?" (1366) These were articles of clothing that more than likely
belonged to his father. His mother warns not to get anything on these articles. His
response is, "I will be careful. I am a man." (1366) This is the first time that we hear Pepe
speak of himself as a man. His narrator mentions mother thoughts of Pepe earlier in the
story by saying, "Mama thought him fine and brave." She did not however refer to him
as a man. After he rides out of sight toward town Mama does say however, "He
is nearly a man." (1367).
After Pepe returns from town and tells his mother of the happenings at Mrs.
Rodriguez's she insists that he must ride into the mountains in hopes of evading his
certain pursuers. We learn from his tales that he had drank wine at Mrs. Rodriguez's,
which is thought of as an adult man,...
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