This story "Ironhead" was such a sad story to read for me. It reminded me of my childhood and how it feel to be different. I think the author was describe a need in a child's or any ones life the important need for friends. Also the terrible burden put on our children by the cruelty of other. And many of our kids today experience the same thing as ironhead. He was treat badly by other kids, parents didn't understand what he's going through. Ironhead was a kids who longed for friends but always was alone. These social pressure tore me apart from inside as a child pick on and segregated from the rest of the group. the story shows how through the death of ironhead how his head was to much to bear and through exhaustion just gave up. This can symbolize how the pressure affect our kids, where it gets to much for them and they just give up. Kids to day commit suicide today because the pressure is to much to bear. Just like fruit and works they hope is broken.
Great observation that "Ironhead" is about the need for friends. We could also add to that family and community--other groups the Ironhead boy also did not fit into. This could explain why he visits the irons at the hardware store. I had not originally read the story this way, but after reading your post "Ironhead" reminds me of the recent string of suicides among gay teens.
ReplyDelete