Themes Of Jasper Jones

Literary works such as narratives often use numerous elements to help convey themes effectively, captivate readers and strengthen their understanding of hidden messages and motifs. ‘Jasper Jones’ a novel by Craig Silvey utilises many different literary elements in a unique way to highlight the themes of the novel including coming-of-age and self-discovery. Silvey does that by skillfully using a combination of elements such as imagery, symbolism, setting and characterisation.

The use of powerful imagery in Jasper Jones plays a crucial role in representing the character's emotions and psychological thoughts. Charlie Buktin, the protagonist describes his inner conflict in this quote "My chest is an empty carousel, and I'm the last horse standing,

As Charlie begins to question the expectation of society and his own identity, he begins to experience moments of empathy and self-discovery. Charlie has a primary desire to be independent which prepares readers to experience his growth. Due to Charlie and Jasper’s friendship, Charlie begins to challenge the standards and values of society which leads him to have a deep understanding of the way others think and behave. Furthermore, observation of the truth and the adult world is dominant in his journey towards self-discovery. As Charlie attempts to solve the mystery of Laura Wishart’s death, he struggles to deal with the truth and the morals of the people he surrounds himself with. The colloquial language in "The truth, it's a funny thing. Not like corn or eggs, not something you can put a date on and say 'use it by here'” illustrates Charlie’s understanding that the truth is biassed and mysterious which leads him to doubt his own thoughts and assumptions. The truth also forces him to challenge painful versions of the people he surrounded himself with which contributed to his growth. Secondly, Charlie's journey towards self-discovery required an investigation of his morals and values. For instance, when Charlie had to protect Jasper even though he knew there may be destructive consequences, he went against his conscience and defined his own beliefs over what's right and wrong. "You could be my conscience, I told him. My moral compass". This quote highlights his search for his own moral compass and the knowledge he gains by sharpening his morals and values. Charlie develops himself and continues to form his character by making decisions according to his own