Jason’s Reflections in the Hall of Mirrors
Jason’s Reflections in the Hall of Mirrors
From the start of Black Swan Green, we see much of Jason’s mental anguish arises from a singular issue: his inability to express himself fully and truly. In the beginning of the book, he is obsessed with popularity and “fitting in.” He conforms to the social norms of his rough-minded peers: using an intricate naming system based on social hierarchy, saying slang despite not knowing its meaning, and above all else, hiding his stutter. “Maggot” and “Unborn Twin” are his constant companions, who relentlessly mock him and coerce him into maintaining a social mask. It is not until the Goose Fair that Jason mentally (and according to him, physically) confronts his alternate personas.
Before his journey into the Hall of Mirrors, Jason discovers Ross Wilcox’s wallet (Mitchell 242). While he does not yet consider returning it outright, as he wanders into the Hall of Mirrors, the decision looms in his thoughts, presumably causing the following mental battle (or hallucination).
‘“Can a person change, asked the tribesman, into another person?”’ the first hallucination asks him (Mitchell 249). Seemingly an innocent question, this thought takes us back to our very first impression of Jason: a young adult trying his best to conform. He does not like who he is, and as a result, wishes he were someone else, someone more popular.
The second hallucination reveals Jason’s answer, discovered some months prior: ‘“No, " answered the Cube. “You can only change superficial features. An Inside-You must stay unaltered to change the Outside-You. To change Inside-You you’d need an Even-More-Inside-You, who’d need an Inside-the-Even-More-Inside-You to change it. And on and on. You with me?”’ (Mitchell 249). Through time and morals persevering, Jason eventually learns that he cannot hide who he is inside. No matter who he wants to be, he is a good friend to a low-ranking boy, someone who cares about his relationship with his parents, and a person who suffers from a stutter. As the “Cube” says, his Inside-self is unchanging by its very nature.
Maggot then responds, “Don’t listen to them. Ross Wilcox and Gary Drake and Neal Brose pick on us because you don’t blend in. If you had the right hair and clothes and spoke the right way and hung out with the right people, things’d be fine. Popularity’s about following weather forecasts,” (Mitchell 249). Maggot’s dialogue represents Jason’s internal conflict: he is someone who others don’t like, yet he is also someone who wants to be liked. To Jason’s less mature, vulnerable self, expression is simple but not easy; it means being who others want Jason to be.
Finally, Jason’s last hallucination provides an answer to Maggot’s cynical remark: “What good’s Maggot ever done you?...How about an Outside-You, suggested Upside-Down Me, who is your Inside-You too? A One-You? If people like your One-You, great. If they don’t, tough. Trying to win approval for your Outside-You is a drag, Jason. That’s what makes you weak. It’s boring.” Jason’s last reflection is one not of self-pity, but self-awareness. At this point, he realizes that despite what he had previously thought, it is much easier and much more satisfying to go through life presenting who he is on the inside to the outside –that is, having only One-You, no Maggot, and no Unborn Twin.
Ella, you did a great job of dissecting this topic and how Jason finally takes control of his speaking and confidence. Once he accepts who he is and can rid himself of the burdens that are Maggot and Unborn Twin his ability to express who he truly is comes forward. Jason didn't have to be who others wanted him to be, he could simply be himself, all he needed was a whack house full of mirrors to see so.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an underrated blog! I feel like this was a perfect analysis of a scene in Black Swan Green that I haven't really seen anyone talk about. After Jason has all his different options laid out for how to continue going about life, it all seems so simple: the best and easiest way forwards is to practice the cliché of "being yourself", shedding all other obstacles despite the potential consequences. Jason has definitely found himself by the end of the book, with the help of all these creepy reflections. But do those creepy reflections also lend more credibility to the idea that Jason has some kind of schizophrenia or personality disorder? We will never know.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a rich scene, and I'm glad you chose to write about it since I had to be absent for the in-class discussion. My favorite moment, in the distorted-mirror introspection scene, is when Jason remarks to "Maggot" (his own distorted reflection), "I always wondered what you look like." At every other point in the book, "Maggot" is simply a voice in Jason's head--and he often listens to and follows the urgent advice of this voice. When we talk in terms of whether Jason is an "attractive target" for bullying, we might say that Jason embodying Maggot's values is what makes him such an attractive target--he cares too much what these people think, he'll debase himself in whatever way is necessary in hopes of impressing them. But in this moment, while he's got the temporary power (Ross's wallet), it's really interesting that he chooses NOT to listen to Maggot, to challenge him, and to come away from the Hall of Mirrors with a pretty firm commitment to no longer "be" Maggot (the Inside-You in line with the Outside-You, which is Maggot's worst nightmare).
ReplyDeleteHi Ella! I think an important part of the scene is the fact that Maggot is the only pre-existing character, if that makes sense. I guess that could show that this upcoming change in Jason's behavior is new and only possible because of his growth throughout the year, since Maggot already exists for him at the start of the novel. I also find it particularly interesting that Maggot is often the voice trying to help Jason survive the social hierarchy. In this moment, he continues to do so, encouraging Jason to play by the rules of the people that bully him so that maybe they'll stop---a logic which seems silly when laid out the way it is (just do these things that change everything about you and it'll all be fine!). But ultimately what helps Jason defeat his bullies and not just survive but live well is refusing to play by their rules. He snitches and basically inspires a complete revolt (with Philip Phelps chasing after Grant Burch).
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