In Wolff’s memoir ‘This Boys Life;’ it is often deemed laborious for the reader to impression much compassion for Toby. Although situated in an abusive household, the protagonist continually makes destructive decisions and elaborative lies. Without prior reflection on their possible consequences, Toby fails to prevent the affect they have on the people around him as well as his own future. Throughout the memoir, the protagonist, Jack Wolff, continually leads himself and the people around him into a preventable down spiral, making it difficult for most readers, especially older onlookers, to composition little or no affection for him. Toby’s negligent actions prove to be troublesome and unruly by their procedure and outcome. However, as the …show more content…
Eventually, readers come to understand that jack does and makes these decisions in order to be accepted by the people around him in his difficult youth; forming allies and connections as a way of survival. Jack unfaithfully betrays his best friend Arthur who is really his only true friend and positive influence. I told no one but Arthur, who kept my secrets even when I betrayed his. Jack also engages in fights with his best friend, which at first is truly disheartening and unfair from the reader’s perspective, is later sympathized with the knowledge and understanding that it is Jacks true best shot at gaining the approval of his abusive stepfather Dwight and protecting himself. Jacks life is driven with emotional neglect and constant abuse; Dwight being the largest cause. Jack is desperate to transform himself into the masculine and happy person he wants to be, a deluded image and way of thinking that he believes will solve all his problems and hardships. Readers eventually gain the knowledge that his lies and deceit are his way of achieving this and providing him with comfort and hope as well as relief and escpae from his currently tortuous youth. ‘I couldn’t help but try to introduce new versions of myself as my interests changed, and as other versions of myself failed to persuade.’ This quote is a clear demonstration of jacks crucial need to fit in, no matter what the length of his