Teenage Reactions

"I'd say the rule about not discussing the donations openly was still there, as strong as ever. But now it was okay, almost required, every now and then, to make some jokey allusion to these things that lay in front of us." -pg 84

I have noted in previous blogs how the progression of this novel closely follows and imitates the progression of a child as they grow to an adult. Not only does the book follow Kathy and her friends as they grow physically, but it notes how their thoughts and reactions to their predicament grow and change with them. When the kids were young, the children of Hailsham felt a strong taboo on the any topic of their future. This was most likely due to immaturity and confusion about what exactly their future would hold. As teenagers, they learn a bit more about what that future will be (mostly due to Miss Emily). Accordingly, their reaction to what they learn is a teenage reaction. They laugh about it. The even make jokes about it. They leave aside the seriousness and treat the scary topics as far away and laughable. The next step is adulthood. I can only assume the next step of the book will be more serious and intense than the other two parts.