The Kid Jack Hogarth Analysis

A Sense of Power: The Arrogance of Jack Hogarth
Throughout centuries, mankind has been able to commit unimaginable acts of violence and horror. These traumatizing events cannot be eradicated, but can be fought through understanding and learning. Ai’s dramatic monologue, “The Kid”, unveils the darkness that can lurk within mankind's psyche. It is a competition of male dominance that is taken to the extreme. Jack is portrayed as an innocent fourteen year old boy, but as the monologue unravels, Jack’s dominant and arrogant personality is revealed. Jack’s primary focus is on his father whom he feels is standing in his way. To overcome his father and prove his dominance, Jack kills his father, as well as the rest of the family. Along with this, …show more content…
This descent into arrogance is portrayed by a number of different symbols throughout the monologue. The first symbol is the tire iron, which is what Jack used to murder his father. The murdering of his father was very personal to him, which is why he selected to kill him first. In Jack’s mind, he has a sense of superiority over his father, leading him to believe he can take over the family. After murdering his father with the tire iron, the speaker explains, “I drop the rod and take the rifle from the house”(16). Jack clearly has psychological issues and is emotionally unstable, which relates to his issues with his father. Jack’s sense of arrogance and superiority pushes him to conclude that he must kill his father to set dominance over his family. In addition, Jack treats the murder as an accomplishment, also revealing arrogance. “I put on the old man’s best suit/ and his patent leather shoes./ I pack my mother’s satin nightgown/ and my sisters doll in the suitcase.”(26-29), explains the speaker. Jack collects the most cherished possessions of his family members, almost mocking the fact that they will never get to enjoy them again. Jack feels no emotions after murdering his family and treats the murder as if it was accomplishment. The items are like trophies to him. Through the use of symbolism, …show more content…
The iron rod represents the personal intention of murdering his father, showing the anger, dominance and arrogance Jack felt over his father. Collecting the items from the murder symbolizes the accomplishment Jack feels after successfully murdering his family. On the other hand, Jack uses asyndetons to describe himself as a nimble and quick person, further proving he thinks very highly of himself, showing the conceited persona he secretly holds within. Similarly, using visual imagery, Jack uses description that shows lack empathy and exemplifies the murders as if they were not a big deal. He proves he is arrogant when he accepts the fact that he must kill his dad face to face. It shows the superiority he has over others and the arrogant thoughts that he has. The power that he holds over his family causes him to put himself on a pedestal over others, and leads him to believe he is invincible. It is impeccably clear to the reader that Jack’s psychological state is very unstable, and that he is did not feel a personal connection with his family. This monologue shows the darkness mankind is truly capable