During childhood, children are constantly telling themselves that they are inferior to adults. The conflict of adulthood versus childhood happens to be one of the main themes in The Ocean at the End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman. Throughout the story, the Hempstocks teach the narrator important lessons regarding grown ups and adults. Among these lessons include how adults don't always win against children and how adults are just children trapped inside intimidating adult bodies. These lessons give the narrator more confidence throughout the story and he begins to stand up to his fears. It is also crucial that the Hempstocks are the ones who teach these lessons to the narrator because they are seen as people who the narrator looks up to and trusts.
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However, before this lesson, there seems to be a continuous theme of adults always winning against children. This though is exhibited multiple times in the book including when the narrator states, “She was also an adult, and when adults fight children, adults always win” (Gaiman 87). Throughout the story, the narrator develops conflict between adults and children. The narrator believes that adults are always more powerful than children and always win in these conflicts. This is consistent throughout the story until Lettie shows our narrator that this isn't always the case. Lettie is able to once again teach this important lesson when the narrator states, “Then Lettie Hempstock whispered old words into the world and the meadow exploded into a golden light. I saw Ursula Monkton swept up and away, although I felt no wind, but there had to be wind, for she was flailing and tipping like a dead leaf in a gale” (Gaiman 89). Lettie is able to overpower Ursula Monkton, and sweep her away. When Lettie is able to overcome Ursula, the narrator is able to witness this and learn that children don't always lose to adults. Instead of simply telling the narrator this information, she is able to demonstrate and prove that adults overcoming children isn't inevitable. In the quote, Gaiman uses the simile “like a dead leaf in a gale” to describe Ursula’s status when Lettie is able to defeat her. This simile is very powerful and shows how Lettie, a child (not entirely, she could be thousands of years old but the narrator views her as a child just a couple of years older than him), is able to overthrow Ursula, an adult. The narrator learns that adults aren't always superior to children and that sometimes, children can overcome
However, before this lesson, there seems to be a continuous theme of adults always winning against children. This though is exhibited multiple times in the book including when the narrator states, “She was also an adult, and when adults fight children, adults always win” (Gaiman 87). Throughout the story, the narrator develops conflict between adults and children. The narrator believes that adults are always more powerful than children and always win in these conflicts. This is consistent throughout the story until Lettie shows our narrator that this isn't always the case. Lettie is able to once again teach this important lesson when the narrator states, “Then Lettie Hempstock whispered old words into the world and the meadow exploded into a golden light. I saw Ursula Monkton swept up and away, although I felt no wind, but there had to be wind, for she was flailing and tipping like a dead leaf in a gale” (Gaiman 89). Lettie is able to overpower Ursula Monkton, and sweep her away. When Lettie is able to overcome Ursula, the narrator is able to witness this and learn that children don't always lose to adults. Instead of simply telling the narrator this information, she is able to demonstrate and prove that adults overcoming children isn't inevitable. In the quote, Gaiman uses the simile “like a dead leaf in a gale” to describe Ursula’s status when Lettie is able to defeat her. This simile is very powerful and shows how Lettie, a child (not entirely, she could be thousands of years old but the narrator views her as a child just a couple of years older than him), is able to overthrow Ursula, an adult. The narrator learns that adults aren't always superior to children and that sometimes, children can overcome