Leper is different from the rest of the boys at the Devon school because he is reluctant to mature and progress while the other boys are excited to mature and become useful members of society. Leper is seen as always standing still, both physically and mentally. When asked by Gene where he was going Leper responded, “Well, I’m not going anywhere… I’m just touring around.”(94) This theme is apparent in many aspects of Leper’s personality. While the other boys are tirelessly “toiling” at the railroad, Leper is just slowly touring around the woods observing nature on his skis. Leper Lepellier has always been an outcast, hence his nickname “Leper”, which is typically used to describe a social misfit. Leper is always scared, not only of coming-of-age but of many things in …show more content…
Gene recommends that he go down a nearby slope because he could go pretty fast down it but Leper responds, “You can break a leg with that downhill stuff.”(95) Leper is afraid of downhill skiing just like he is afraid of progressing into adulthood. This shows that Leper is generally a nervous person. Leper also thinks that downhill skiing defeats the purpose of skiing because you go too fast to observe nature. He says, “You never get to see the trees or anything.”(95) Leper loves and sees meaning in nature. He enjoys going slow on his skis so he can really observe and take in nature. In literature, nature represents innocence while progressing and coming of age represents loss of innocence. While the boys are out working on the railroad tracks, Leper is touring through nature, closely observing the trees. As Gene watches Leper begin to ski, he observes, “He pushed deliberately forward and slid slowly away from me down the gradual slope, standing very upright, his skis far apart to guard against any threat to his balance, his poles sticking out on either side of him, as though to ward off any interference.” (96) Leper is extremely scared of many things, including the idea of maturing