Characters
Jerry
Jerry is an eleven-year-old English boy vacationing with his mother on a beach they have visited before. His mother, who is a widow, alternates between being overprotective and not protective enough. Jerry tries to befriend some older boys on the beach, but they dismiss him after realizing he is too childish. Jerry envies these older boys and watches them swim through a narrow underwater gap in a rock. Determined to match their abilities, he practices holding his breath relentlessly so he can also swim through the rock. This challenge symbolizes his journey into adulthood and his quest for independence from his sometimes overprotective mother.
Mother
Jerry's mother is an anxious widow who takes him on vacation. Her pale arms suggest she is not accustomed to outdoor activities, and she appears uncomfortable throughout the story. She oscillates between worrying about being too possessive and not protective enough. She buys Jerry goggles and allows him to play wherever he wishes until he returns with a bleeding nose or looking pale from swimming underwater. At that point, she makes him stay with her on the "safe beach" for a day. The next day, Jerry ventures out again, risking his life while his mother relaxes on the tourist section of the shore. Their relationship swings between distant and extremely close, with a constant tension between her authority and his desire for freedom. As a widow, she must raise Jerry on her own, and her concerns about his safety and independence reflect the challenges of single parenthood.
Expert Q&A
What is Jerry's mother's motivation in "Through the Tunnel" and how does it advance the plot?
Jerry's mother's motivation is to balance allowing independence while ensuring safety, advancing the plot by enabling Jerry's growth. She avoids being overprotective, granting him freedom to explore another beach and buy swim goggles without questioning him. Her approach encourages Jerry's independence and maturity, facilitating his rite of passage through the tunnel. Her trust and restraint empower Jerry to undertake and complete his personal challenge, thus driving the story forward.
Describe the initial relationship between Jerry and his mother in "Through the Tunnel".
Jerry's growth and evolving maturing is reflected in his relationship with his mother by the presence of a new distance between the two. His mother's approval and love is no longer enough for him, and he seeks acceptance in a group of older boys who he meets while on vacation.
How does Jerry's relationship with his mother reflect his maturity in "Through the Tunnel"?
Why does Jerry yield to his mother's demand at the end of "Through the Tunnel"?
Jerry yields to his mother's demand at the story's end because he no longer feels the need to prove himself. After successfully swimming through the underwater tunnel, a personal rite of passage, Jerry gains self-respect and maturity. He achieves his goal of equaling the older boys who previously dismissed him, thus removing any importance from returning to the bay. Exhausted yet fulfilled, Jerry complies with his mother's wishes, as he has nothing left to prove.
In "Through The Tunnel", what role does Jerry's mother play in the theme of rites of passage?
Jerry's mother in "Through the Tunnel" plays a crucial role in the theme of rites of passage by embodying the balance between protectiveness and allowing independence. Her anxieties about overprotecting Jerry push him to seek independence and prove his maturity. This is symbolized by Jerry's determination to swim through the underwater tunnel, marking his transition from childhood to adulthood. The mother's indirect influence helps Jerry achieve his rite of passage, despite her unawareness of his achievement.
How does Jerry's relationship with his mother affect his desire to swim through the tunnel?
Jerry's relationship with his mother complicates his desire to swim through the tunnel because it interferes with his budding independence.
Describe the relationship between Jerry and his mother in "Through the Tunnel".
Jerry and his mother share a devoted yet independent relationship, marked by Jerry's journey toward maturity. His mother is protective but not overbearing, while Jerry feels a sense of responsibility and chivalry towards her. As Jerry seeks independence, he secretly challenges himself to swim through the tunnel, marking his transition from childhood to maturity. By the story's end, Jerry's successful passage through the tunnel symbolizes his newfound independence, acknowledged subtly by his mother.
Why is Jerry described as "defiant and beseeching" towards his mother in "Through the Tunnel"?
Jerry is described as "defiant and beseeching" towards his mother because he is caught between his desire for independence and his need for her help. He wants to swim through the tunnel like the older boys and requires goggles for this task. His defiance reflects his urge to mature and assert independence, while his beseeching tone reveals his dependence on his mother to achieve his immediate goal.
In "Through the Tunnel," how does Jerry's mother hinder his initiation?
Jerry's mother hinders his initiation into adulthood by occasionally restricting his independence, such as keeping him at her beach for a day, which temporarily prevents him from attempting the tunnel swim. Her presence also symbolizes the typical parental obstacle for a teenage boy seeking independence; being seen with his mother is not "cool," and Jerry desires to assert his independence and maturity away from her oversight.
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