Hugo vs Jason
When we were first introduced to Hugo, I, like most of us, really didn't like him. On the other hand, Jason is great. However, while I was first getting to know Hugo, I noticed a bit of similarity between him and Jason. Not with the Jason who likes Lord of the Rings and poetry and cares about people, but between him and the person Jason sometimes attempted to become. Hugo represents Jason's ideal alter ego, and the realization that Hugo really isn't that great of a role model begins his slow departure from people-pleasing and social performance.
As we find out in the very first chapter of Black Swan Green, Jason is actually socially competent. He understands the subliminal rules of every social situation and follows them carefully, and he manages to maintain status as a 'regular kid' for a long time. Even though he possesses several qualities that could (and eventually do) transform him into an outcast instantly, namely his stammer and his poetry, he successfully hides them for a long time. Jason knows how to survive his classmates and is quite good at it, especially given his innate of being a giant nerd. However, that comes at a cost. At times he's cruel to Dean, calling him Moron. He bullies old men (albeit mean ones), steals -- temporarily, and has a cold head because his hat is too gay.
In general, Jason's worst moments are motivated by social pressure, and they're forgivable because we see the severe bullying he faces. Still, the person Jason strives to become, mostly towards the beginning of the book, is a bleak comparison to the original. That person is "hard" and cool and dates Dawn Madden, who's a jerk, and inevitably picks on lesser boys to maintain his status. This person resembles Hugo. Hugo's super cool and hot and fancy and good at video games and a smoker, and who's also a social chamoleon who can fit in with the locals despite his posh name and background that would get other kids beat up. Hugo has perfected the skills Jason sometimes struggles with and reaps the rewards he lusts after. But he's also half a psychopath who steals and bullies and loves to make everyone around him unhappy. It would have been disappointing if Jason succeeded in becoming like his cousin.
When Madame C. asked Jason if he wanted to fit in with the hairy barbarians, in a way she was asking if he wanted to be like Hugo. Popular and unbothered by bullies, but devoid of moral standards or personal identity. Fortunately Jason realizes no, he doesn't want to be like that. The day he spends with Hugo slowly strips away the glamour of the 'cool guy' and leaves behind a cousin who steals and cheats and laughs as Jason's pain. Because becoming Hugo would've required Jason to leave behind his moral groundings. Hugo wouldn't gone back for Dean or given back Ross Wilcox's wallet. Hugo also would've been a Spook who doesn't get bullied and dates whoever he likes, but Jason decided that the sacrifice was worth it.
I totally agree with you, Jason thought Hugo was this perfect person that everyone strived to be. Jason even thought other people would think he was cool just by being around Hugo. I also agree with you in that Jason's day with Hugo was definitely the start to Jason questioning himself about whether he truly wanted to be like Hugo. Although he was definitely in awe of Hugo when they hung out together, Jason was shocked when Hugo made Nigel cry, as well as when he stole the cigarettes. At this moment though, I think Jason's awe overpowered his shock, so it wasn't until Madame C. questioned Jason whether he wanted to be a hairy barbarian that he truly realized he didn't want to be like Hugo.
ReplyDeleteI always forget about the subtle moment when Jason observes that Hugo's accent changes just *slightly* to be "less posh" and "more London" when he's showing off at the Asteroids machine. It's a keen observation on Jason's part, as he can see the extent to which Hugo is engaging in a performance, and that he's "editing" himself in order to create a certain impression among the impressionable young men at the pub. This is another example of Hugo's ability to "do things with words," which blows Jason's mind and makes him want to BE Hugo, but it's also an example of the kind of self-editing we see Jason do, as when he suddenly assumes a more "hard" posture approaching the hill with Grant Burch waiting to fight Wilcox--a slight adjustment in order to create an impression among his audience.
ReplyDeleteI really like the point you make of how Hugo is just doing what Jason tries to do, but better. Hugo isn't just some guy who, by some chance of fate, is popular and liked by everyone around him (well, "liked" by other boys his age). Hugo works to fit in, being a "chameleon" as you described him. I'd actually be interested to see Hugo's thoughts - actually, the thoughts of every boy in Black Swan Green. Is Hugo motivated by similar reasons as Jason? Was he originally more like Jason, a kind of inherent social outcast because of his interests, and he just learned to adapt faster and better than Jason did? Because with all of the teenage boys around, I doubt all of them have the exact same interests or even all have not-gay interests. Is Jason truly alone in his personality and interests, or is he just alone as being one of the few people still trying to resist the social pressure.
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