Ross Wilcox embodies toxic male violence. Ross' violence has no purpose other than to continue a series of pointless conflicts sparked by his own fear and insecurity. The cycle of violence goes back to Ross' father, an abusive man who put his own wife in the hospital for losing a couple postage stamps. But how did Ross' father become so violent? It's likely that he also had a traumatic past that forced him into a pattern of male violence.
Jason struggles to cope with Ross' ruthless bullying because it seems that there's no right way to respond: anything he does will get him more hurt. In fact, there is no possible response that could make Ross stop because he is so firmly entrenched in a violent system. Ross is incapable of gratitude, even when Jason kindly returns his wallet, because he doesn't know how to express those emotions. But no matter how badly Jason has been bullied, he is able to empathize with Ross because he recognizes that Ross is trapped.
The end of the chapter "Maggot" leaves Jason with two possible courses of action: he can passively ignore whatever horrible things Ross does to him, or he can follow the sadistic bus driver's advice and slit Ross' tendons. In the following chapter, Jason mostly follows the first option and tries to keep going with his life no matter what they do to him, though he admits that the idea of using violence against Ross is tempting. Once he finds the wallet, Jason considers pocketing it and leaving Ross to get beat up by his murderous father. However, Jason eventually decides to return the wallet, thus breaking himself out of the violent system Ross perpetuates.
After Jason returns the wallet and refuses violence, Ross is still unable to recognize that the system he is trapped in is toxic. As a result, he ends up in a horrific motorcycle crash that leaves him without a leg. In short, Ross slit his own tendons. The cycle of violence that both Ross and his father are a part of can only end with destruction, and that's exactly what happened.
I don't know what happens to Ross after he loses his leg, but I'm actually optimistic for his future. Ross won't be able to commit violent acts while he learns to live with one leg, so maybe he'll finally realize that he can break the cycle of violence. Maybe Ross will learn a new talent while recovering. Maybe he'll find that he has a passion for something other than making other kids feel shitty. The accident could be a turning point that leads Ross to a more sustainable and peaceful way of life.
Jason struggles to cope with Ross' ruthless bullying because it seems that there's no right way to respond: anything he does will get him more hurt. In fact, there is no possible response that could make Ross stop because he is so firmly entrenched in a violent system. Ross is incapable of gratitude, even when Jason kindly returns his wallet, because he doesn't know how to express those emotions. But no matter how badly Jason has been bullied, he is able to empathize with Ross because he recognizes that Ross is trapped.
The end of the chapter "Maggot" leaves Jason with two possible courses of action: he can passively ignore whatever horrible things Ross does to him, or he can follow the sadistic bus driver's advice and slit Ross' tendons. In the following chapter, Jason mostly follows the first option and tries to keep going with his life no matter what they do to him, though he admits that the idea of using violence against Ross is tempting. Once he finds the wallet, Jason considers pocketing it and leaving Ross to get beat up by his murderous father. However, Jason eventually decides to return the wallet, thus breaking himself out of the violent system Ross perpetuates.
After Jason returns the wallet and refuses violence, Ross is still unable to recognize that the system he is trapped in is toxic. As a result, he ends up in a horrific motorcycle crash that leaves him without a leg. In short, Ross slit his own tendons. The cycle of violence that both Ross and his father are a part of can only end with destruction, and that's exactly what happened.
I don't know what happens to Ross after he loses his leg, but I'm actually optimistic for his future. Ross won't be able to commit violent acts while he learns to live with one leg, so maybe he'll finally realize that he can break the cycle of violence. Maybe Ross will learn a new talent while recovering. Maybe he'll find that he has a passion for something other than making other kids feel shitty. The accident could be a turning point that leads Ross to a more sustainable and peaceful way of life.
If we look at Ross's future optimistically, maybe we can also see Jason forgive himself for his actions in giving the wallet back as well. Even though what happened to Ross is not directly Jason's fault, he feels the guilt, and perhaps seeing him reform himself will help ease Jason's guilt.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the cycle of violence can be hard to break, especially if it starts from childhood. I believe we are a product of our environments, and if Ross was in a dangerous home with his father, it could explain, but not excuse, his actions. Losing his leg might be the shock needed to shape him into a better person.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good post. The cycle of violence seems impossible to break. And the fact that it's a cycle almost makes it seem like the violence is more excusable. When I found out that Ross's father abused him I immediately felt bad for him and the violence he inflicted on his classmates made more sense. But if Ross's violence becomes excusable than this just contributes more to the cycle and makes it seem as thought it will never end.
ReplyDeleteRoss's subplot is really sad. It seems so obvious in hindsight that he just repeats what he's learned from his dad. I think Jason is a good example of the opposite though. He sees his parents' loveless, cold marriage and instead of seeking to imitate it with Dawn he decides to pursue Holly, who really likes him and makes him happy.
ReplyDeleteJason really steps up in regard to Ross, and I think he is even surprised with himself that he decides to give Ross' wallet back. To me, I didn't see Maggot or Unborn Twin acting up in this situation -- in fact, this may have been the "real" Jason, a moment in which he decides for himself, without the voices inside him, how he will resolve this situation in a mature way. It's an important milestone in his coming-of-age story. And, side note, I also hope that the loss of Ross' leg allows him time for a change of heart.
ReplyDeleteThe last we hear about Ross (who is now referred to by all the adults as "that poor Ross Wilcox" after the accident), Jason refers to Dawn Madden as "helping the love of her life learn to walk with a plastic leg"--so we do get a glimpse that there might be something substantial in that relationship (despite all appearances) and that Ross has maybe been humbled by his accident.
ReplyDeleteI really like this - it's proven that bullies don't just come out of the womb as bullies - they learn to abuse people from a source. I think Jason becomes more and more insightful in the second half of the book, especially after the "Maggot" chapter, when he follows Dean's example of not reacting to violence, which breaks his potential cycle. I, too, hope that Ross sees his lost leg as a warning against continuing the cycle of violence, which was put on him by generations of abuse.
ReplyDelete