“In the following literature selections, individuals experience rites of passage in various ways:
“The bass, the river, and sheila mant” by W.D. Wetherell
“Oranges” by Gary Soto
Write about the rites of passage that individuals in the selections confront. Provide evidence by including names of characters as well as specific details from the text to support your claim.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell and "Oranges" by Gary Soto, the characters in both selections confront rites of passage that significantly impact their lives.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the protagonist, the narrator, experiences a rite of passage as he navigates the complex territory of adolescence and first love. The story follows his struggle to balance his love for fishing and his admiration for Sheila Mant, a popular and attractive girl. The narrator's coming-of-age moment occurs when he has to make a difficult decision between holding onto the trophy bass he catches and impressing Sheila, or sacrificing the fish to impress her and potentially win her over. The narrator ultimately decides to let the bass go, realizing that his passion for fishing outweighs his desire to impress Sheila. This decision represents his transition from trying to fit into the expectations of others to embracing his true identity and following his own passions.
In "Oranges," the main character, a young boy, experiences a rite of passage on his first date. Throughout the story, the boy is nervous and unsure of how to behave on this important occasion. His anxiety is apparent, as the narrator mentions his sweaty palms and shaky hands. The significance of the boy's rite of passage emerges when he uses his scarce money to buy his date a gift, an act that demonstrates his desire to impress her and make her happy. The boy's naivety and innocence are depicted through his concern about pantyhose and how he is unsure about proper gift-giving etiquette. However, by the end of their date, when the boy holds the girl's hand and realizes she doesn't mind, he gains a newfound sense of confidence and self-assurance. This experience marks his transition from a boy to a young man, as he successfully navigates the challenges of a first date.
Overall, "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" and "Oranges" portray the transformative moments in the characters' lives as they confront their respective rites of passage. Through their experiences, they learn valuable lessons about identity, independence, and the importance of staying true to oneself.
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In the literature selections "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell and "Oranges" by Gary Soto, individuals go through rites of passage that shape their identities.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the protagonist, an unnamed boy, experiences a rite of passage related to his first love and navigating the complexities of social expectations. He is infatuated with Sheila Mant, a popular girl who joins him for a boat ride. As they spend time together, the boy hopes to impress her with his fishing skills, but struggles with the conflict between his love for fishing and his desire to win Sheila's favor. This internal struggle represents a rite of passage as the boy learns to balance conflicting desires and make choices that align with his values and priorities. The text states, "I’d be giving up my sport for her… willing to become a cringing, envies shadow of a person" (Wetherell). This illustrates the conflict the boy feels and the choices he must make as he confronts his own rite of passage.
In "Oranges," the protagonist, a young boy named Gary, experiences a rite of passage associated with the exploration of adolescence and young love. Gary goes on a date with a girl named Teresa, who he is attracted to. Throughout the story, he navigates through the challenges of teenage awkwardness, self-consciousness, and the excitement of a first romantic encounter. The instances where Gary tries to impress Teresa by paying for the oranges and walking alongside her convey his journey toward adulthood. The text describes, "I took out two oranges… the weight of the oranges were like pulling me down to the bottom of the tank," highlighting the symbolism of the oranges representing the weight of adult responsibility and the rite of passage Gary is experiencing (Soto).
These examples highlight how the characters in both selections confront rites of passage in various ways. In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the protagonist grapples with his first love and societal expectations, while in "Oranges," Gary goes through the challenges and excitement of his first romantic encounter.
To analyze the rites of passage experienced by the characters in the literature selections, "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell and "Oranges" by Gary Soto, we need to examine the specific details and character development in each story.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the main character experiences a rite of passage related to his personal growth and decision-making. The character, who remains unnamed, is an adolescent boy who is infatuated with his neighbor, Sheila Mant. He takes her on a boating date and, during the outing, catches a large bass. However, he faces a conundrum when he realizes that keeping the bass will cost him the chance of impressing Sheila. Ultimately, he chooses to release the bass back into the river, prioritizing his connection with Sheila over his personal accomplishment. This decision marks his passage from childhood to adolescence, as he learns to navigate the complexities of relationships and to prioritize emotional connections over personal achievements.
In "Oranges" by Gary Soto, a young boy goes on a date with a girl and also experiences a rite of passage tied to personal growth and overcoming obstacles. The boy, whose name is not mentioned, takes the girl to a drugstore, where he buys her an orange. Through his actions, he demonstrates his compassion and willingness to provide for someone else, especially in a potentially awkward or challenging situation. This symbolic gift of the orange represents his transition from childhood to young adulthood, as he assumes the responsibilities and challenges of a romantic relationship. The boy's willingness to face his nerves and purchase the orange shows his courage and maturity in facing new experiences.
To support these claims about the characters' rites of passage, you can use specific details from the texts. Quotes or references to their actions, thoughts, or dialogue can help provide evidence of the characters' growth and the significance of their experiences.