Character Analysis: The First Part Last By Angela Johnson

Most people feel that all teenagers are immature and can't be responsible, that they can't be trusted, especially with a child. Though this may be true, some teens have to be more mature and responsible than others. In The First Part Last by Angela Johnson, a teenager, named Bobby, needs to grow up much quicker than most. He has a child at the age of 16. Bobby has to leave his childish habits in the past and "come of age," which by the end of the story he does. He becomes more mature and reliable. Bobby leaves his childish patterns in the past, becomes an adult, and becomes a better father for his daughter. One way that Bobby came of age is he left his childish patterns in the past. Th first example of this is, he left Feather by her self to go play basketball with his friends "I made it to the corner."(Johnson p.23) He made it to the corner before he realized what he had done. Bobby mentions that when he got back to Feather he knelt by her crib and set the basketball down. "...it rolled out of my room..." (Johnson p.23) this …show more content…
Before going to see his dad he lists off everything he needs for Feather, "Eight extra diapers, Baby corn starch, Baby wipes"(p.16) this shows that he is more responsible and cares about feather. After Bobby gets picked up by his dad from the police station he says, "I climb the stairs and thinking about holding her, or maybe i'm really thinking about just holding onto her."(p.75) After a hard day all Bobby can think about is holding Feather. This symbolizes Bobby not just hold her but hold onto her and never letting go. He doesn't want to let go of her and lose her. In conclusion, Bobby left his immature and childish habits in the past, became more of an adult, and most importantly became a better father for his daughter. In other words, Bobby came of age. He grew up much more quickly than most teens have to. Most people feel that teenagers can't be