Flight

“And there was Pepé, the tall smiling son of nineteen, a gentle, affectionate boy, and very lazy.”

This is Steinbeck’s first depiction of Pepé and his laziness. His height and age stand in immediate contrast to the description of him as “a gentle, affectionate boy,” suggesting a man-child. As the only thing Steinbeck reveals about Pepé is how lazy he is, the image becomes static, like a photograph.

“Pepé smiled sheepishly and stabbed at the ground with his knife to keep the blade sharp and free from rust. It was his inheritance, that knife, his father’s knife.”

Here, the symbol of Pepé’s knife is introduced. The knife is precious to the protagonist as it represents his desire to be a man. Consequently, he is careful to maintain the blade. Nevertheless, his sheepish demeanor suggests that he lacks the maturity and confidence that manhood entails.

“Mama said wisely, ‘A boy gets to be a man when a man is needed. Remember this thing. I have known boys of forty years old because there was no need for a man.’”

This passage establishes the theme of The Difficulty of Growing Up. Mama suggests that the process of maturation does not automatically occur. There must be the added pressure of the need for the transformation to happen. The comment foreshadows the murder that abruptly launches Pepé into manhood.