He might not be a man quite yet, but he's well on his way. Yassen is right when he tells Alex to "go back to school" because "killing is for grown-up and you're still a child" (17.78), but we've seen firsthand how grown-up Alex can be. Remember: At the start of things, he is just a fourteen-year-old boy with death in his past and uncertainty in his future. How does he do it? Two things: his natural grit and determination, and the memory of how his uncle "never stopped" (11.59) fighting.īy the end of the novel, Alex has taken control of his own destiny. Alex's life is put in danger repeatedly and, over the course of only a few days, he wins more no-win situations than we can count. Training is one thing, but it's a whole different game out there in the real world, so although Alex grows a lot in the time before his excursion to Sayle Enterprises, it's nothing compared to the growth he experiences during the mission. But Alex eventually earns their respect by his adherence to the bro code, becoming not a trainee, but a peer-a.k.a. His experience there centers on earning the respect of the older men in his group, all of whom "taunt or humiliate him" with the (un)affectionate nickname "Double O Nothing" (5.22-23). Alex is tested more than ever before and can even sense the "taste of defeat" (5.3) at times. If MI6 is a leap into adulthood, then consider boot camp to be the inevitable free fall. Regardless, they are the first people to believe in Alex's immense potential. On the other, though, they treat his life as expendable, although it must be mentioned that they seem to think that all life is expendable. On one hand, they respect the kid for his spunk and believe him to be "extraordinarily brave and resourceful" (4.73). Jones treat Alex with a mixture of respect and ambivalence. The next steps-which are more like leaps-come in the form of Alex's burgeoning relationship with MI6. Already, we can see this distracted young boy take his first steps into adulthood. We see Alex, though sad beyond belief, using all of his abilities to discover the "truth about his uncle's past" (1.55). Equally important, however, are the changes within Alex sparked by the tragedy. While there is the typical action violence. Ian's death has many practical implications for Alex, from threatening his financial security to almost forcing him to move into "an institution" that's "not a very pleasant place" (4.89). Operation Stormbreaker is one of the newer breed of films we have been telling you about recently at Dove. One monumental event changes everything, though. He doesn't have any special skills, and there are no tricks up his sleeves. He lives a normal life, and he loves to "play soccer" (4.81) with his friends he's mostly disinterested in school, although he can be focused and engaged with subjects that he enjoys. Kid 'R' UsĪlex isn't very different than you were (or will be) at fourteen. Ultimately, Alex is only able to get through his trials because he is able to adapt, growing into a man in the process. Sure, his uncle has been preparing him to be spy without his knowledge, but a few karate classes aren't going to prepare you for what Alex goes through over the course of Stormbreaker. Alex Rider ain't no Harry Potter-there is no prophecy foretelling his rise, no mystical help from on high, no wondrous academy to enroll in.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |