Growing up is extremely nerve-wracking, as explained in Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell. The novel, Fangirl, could have been better written if the author had used words other than foul language. Excluding that minor flaw, I think the novel portrays the life of Cath, an 18-year-old introvert, and Wren, Cath's sister, very well. I believe one of the themes in Fangirl is the way people come of age and the struggles one goes through to get there. Rowell expresses the theme by using symbolism, conflicts, and setting.
The first way Rowell showed the theme was through symbolism. The symbol, a swing set, represented the loss of innocence found in one's childhood. The protagonist, Cath, wants to prevent the kids from losing their innocence, as implied on …show more content…
Very early on, the readers learn about a dispute that took place between Cath and Wren at the end of their high school career. "The two of them [Cath and Wren] had shared a room for eighteen years, why stop now? ‘We've shared a room for eighteen years,' Wren argued." (pg. 6) Cath and Wren had very different views on college and rooming together. Cath believed college was about doing schoolwork and staying within what's comfortable; Wren believed college is a place to meet new people and go out of one's comfort zone. Later in the book, an argument breaks out about Wren's ability to stay sober and handle her responsibilities away from home. Arthur, Cath and Wren's father, believes that Wren should stay at home. "‘I am not letting this happen to you. I'm not taking a call like that again. I'm not spending every weekend from now on, wondering where you are and who you're with, and whether you're even sober enough to know when you've landed in the gutter." (pg. 353) Part of becoming an adult is being responsible, which Wren was not. Her father saw that and insisted that come home every weekend, so he could look after her like she was still a child. Wren obviously did not want that so she promised to be sober and with Cath as much as she could. By Wren going back to college, it showed that she grew up when she had her reality
The first way Rowell showed the theme was through symbolism. The symbol, a swing set, represented the loss of innocence found in one's childhood. The protagonist, Cath, wants to prevent the kids from losing their innocence, as implied on …show more content…
Very early on, the readers learn about a dispute that took place between Cath and Wren at the end of their high school career. "The two of them [Cath and Wren] had shared a room for eighteen years, why stop now? ‘We've shared a room for eighteen years,' Wren argued." (pg. 6) Cath and Wren had very different views on college and rooming together. Cath believed college was about doing schoolwork and staying within what's comfortable; Wren believed college is a place to meet new people and go out of one's comfort zone. Later in the book, an argument breaks out about Wren's ability to stay sober and handle her responsibilities away from home. Arthur, Cath and Wren's father, believes that Wren should stay at home. "‘I am not letting this happen to you. I'm not taking a call like that again. I'm not spending every weekend from now on, wondering where you are and who you're with, and whether you're even sober enough to know when you've landed in the gutter." (pg. 353) Part of becoming an adult is being responsible, which Wren was not. Her father saw that and insisted that come home every weekend, so he could look after her like she was still a child. Wren obviously did not want that so she promised to be sober and with Cath as much as she could. By Wren going back to college, it showed that she grew up when she had her reality