Post by Pedro J. Paez on Sept 30, 2015 1:38:43 GMT
The main character Botchan is an obnoxious, self-centered young man ever since he was a small boy he only caused nothing but trouble. In his own egoistic world he never grew out of his habit to judge everyone else even Kiyo, his former old servant lady mentioned his bad habit in her only letter she wrote back to him. I think this short tale is about personal growth for the main character because as he becomes a mathematics teacher at a middle school in a very small town he never grows up in terms of his attitude and self-observation. But that is what made him unique in my own opinion. I personally enjoy his regular bad habit of looking down at others and using his physical brute force to beat up those around his age. That particular small town is indeed my worst nightmare because as Botchan mentions a few times everyone in that town knew each other for example when he first taught his classes his students from each class wrote something quite childish which irritated Botchan beyond a harmless prank. He wasn't particularly smart and he was aware of that very well. Redshirt was one of the faculty at the middle school which he personally named during his first meeting and he viewed Botchan as no threat to his position at the middle school precisely because of Botchan lack of using his brain more than his own feeling.
On the top of page 85, Botchan says, "Every one of them is puffed up in his own personal way, bit I had never seen anyone like Mr Pale Squash, who tried so hard to be meek and unobtrusive that looked more like a hostage puppet than a man." I remember this sentence right away when I thought of which sentence(s) I wanted to express. I chose this one because Botchan judges people before he is able to fully understand a person true essence as he did with the Porcupine later becoming allies in the name of vengeance and justice. This society in that small place always rub Botchan in the wrongest of ways and he felt truly alone about how things were viewed and their actions toward them. Which is exactly why Botchan was so thrilled to leave that place and reunite with Kiyo.
Discussion question: Do you agree with Botchan's disgusted viewpoint regarding that small town and why? Was it justified what Botchan and Porcupine did to Redshirt and Hanger?
On the top of page 85, Botchan says, "Every one of them is puffed up in his own personal way, bit I had never seen anyone like Mr Pale Squash, who tried so hard to be meek and unobtrusive that looked more like a hostage puppet than a man." I remember this sentence right away when I thought of which sentence(s) I wanted to express. I chose this one because Botchan judges people before he is able to fully understand a person true essence as he did with the Porcupine later becoming allies in the name of vengeance and justice. This society in that small place always rub Botchan in the wrongest of ways and he felt truly alone about how things were viewed and their actions toward them. Which is exactly why Botchan was so thrilled to leave that place and reunite with Kiyo.
Discussion question: Do you agree with Botchan's disgusted viewpoint regarding that small town and why? Was it justified what Botchan and Porcupine did to Redshirt and Hanger?