Merry-go-round In The Sea & # 8211 ; Radolph Stowe Essay, Research Paper

In Randolph Stowe & # 8217 ; s novel, & # 8220 ; MERRY-GO-ROUND IN THE SEA & # 8221 ; , the jobs of adolescence and early maturity are a primary focal point. Many factors contribute to the complexness of these jobs, the chief issues being h consequence war has on a turning male child and the loss of Rick & # 8217 ; s unworried attiude and artlessness through the injury he endured as a POW. Not merely does Stowe concentrate on phychological alterations within the chief characters, but besides the physical alterations clip influcts upon them. Stowe efficaciously includes these issues as portion of the novel & # 8217 ; s rhythm, which is represented by the symbol, the merry-go-round.

As a little kid, the war had a shattering consequence on Rob, though in his naivete it was no obvious to himself. The general issues of turning up are difficult plenty for a kid to get by with, allow entirely the added concern of war. The absence of Rob & # 8217 ; s father made the war state of affairs well harder for him to get by with. Although he was ne’er peculiarly close to him, Rob respected his male parent and regarded him a a gentleman & # 8220 ; He did non believe that there would be any more gentlemen after his male parent & # 8217 ; s time. & # 8221 ; Rob considered this deficiency of intimacy between himself and his male parent to be the terminal of an epoch. Another of import issue caused by the war is Rob & # 8217 ; s changeless travel. His roots were invariably being uprooted as his female parent dragged him from farm to farm. Due to th remoreness of these belongingss, Robmissed out on one of the most critical facets of childhoos, changeless friendly relationship. From this independance, Rob learnt to be strong, but he besides failed to see the importance of equals and what they could lend to a job.

Rick & # 8217 ; s absence was besides a important factor to the psychological development of Rob & # 8217 ; s character. Merely as he began to halt concentrating on Rick & # 8217 ; s absence, Rick returned place. all marks of the small independance Rob had developed disappeared, and he

fitted neatly into the class of “Rick’s shadow” . The outlooks Rob placed on Rick while he was off were impossible for him to populate up to upon his return. After a bad dream, Rob cried out “Where’s Rick? I want Rick.” However upon returning, Rick found that he had his ain problms to get by with and could non ever be the support Rob was looking for. The strongest factors adhering the two together was Rob’s love for Rick and the tolerance Rick had for the male child.

Rob was non the lone immature individual the war had a dramatic impact on. Rick was besides badly traumatised and returned place a wholly different individual. While his absence was learning Rob independance, it wa confering him with the gift of trust in others. In order to acquire by, he teamed up with Hughie and they supported each other through the anguish of being a POW. This was a critical portion to Ric & # 8217 ; s endurance, but something he refused to allow travel of, even when he had his ain household back uping him. Memories of the war invariably haunted hello, frequently going confounding and making a feeling of weakness within Rob. The merriment, carefee Rick everyone had grown to love was replaced with a shell of a adult male, who was still happy and energetic, but had a devil stalking his psyche.

The chief characters did non merely develop psychologically, but besides physically. However this alteration was non needfully for the better. Rick returned from the war looking really similar to the manner he did before he left. & # 8220 ; He seemed to be have oning the same apparels, the same bluish shirt and Grey trousers. & # 8221 ; In Rob & # 8217 ; s eyes, Rick & # 8217 ; s difference was in the face. His eyes were more gaunt looking, and seemed to keep some kind of secret. However, Rob finally becamse resigned to the fact that this was something he would ne’er be able to assist Rick with.

Although the war had a shattering consequence on the characters, it was the chief subscriber to the development of them, both mentally and physically.