Similarities Between 'Boy And Aubrey In Red At The Bone'

Josie Smith
English
5/18/23
The First 19 Years of Life Shape Everything

The contrast of the characters Po’Boy and Aubrey throughout the novel Red at the Bone illustrates how there is a decreased accessibility when being in the lower class, leading to a heightened value of family and a lessened view of the benefit of having an education, as well as how one’s sexual experiences shape their views. Both Po’Boy and Aubrey come from lower-class families leading them to value family more. They both have single mothers who struggle to make ends meet, nevertheless, both men speak very highly of their mothers. They often mention their close relationships with them, signaling to the reader that these relationships have had a profound impact on them.

Iris develops as a result of her upbringing in a higher class. She highlights the gap between class values because she grows up in a financially stable home but is not close to her mother. Her upbringing leads her to prioritize herself and her education over her family. Unlike Iris, Aubrey wants to stay home and raise Melody rather than go to college. Iris even questions why Aubrey doesn't want to get a higher education. She begins by describing Aubrey’s satisfaction with only attending high school despite his intelligence, she says, “High school had been all [Aubrey] needed…If he had taken the SATs, Iris knew he would have scored high enough to get into any school he wanted. But he was done. He was good.” (Woodson 61) She follows this statement by questioning his contentment, she says, “How was this absolutely enough for him.” (Woodson 61) Iris’s confusion on why Aubrey would prioritize his education over raising their daughter confirms how their views on the importance of these aspects of their life are imbalanced because of their difference in backgrounds. The lower class has a heightened view of the importance of family, but values the importance of education less. Lower-class people’s reduced priority of education is a result of decades of decreased accessibility for those in poverty. Po’boy displays this lack of accessibility through his description of how his running career allowed him to attend college, he says, “Another year of college paying your way.”(Woodson 94) Po’boy’s words suggest that he was only able to attend college because of his athleticism, validating how there is a lack of access to higher schooling for the underprivileged. Po’Boy continues to substantiate the connection between class and education when he says, “I'd never even given college much thought till Aunt Ella sent that letter.” (Woodson 96) Po’boys revealing his lack of