old boy Jerry, is going through the different stages from childhood to manhood, which

changes his character. He goes through this rite of passage by separating from his safe

mother, by disciplining himself to reach his goal and by courageously overcoming his fears

In the beginning of the story, Jerry is portrayed as a young boy who is still very

much attached to his mother. He would accompany her to the “safe beach”(Lessing 67,50 for

the routine of swimming and sunbathing with his mommy. The young “English boy” shows

early signs of transition by not wanting to stay at the “big beach”( 67,50) and going

to the “wild and rocky bay”( 67,50). This represents Jerry wanting to explore the

wonders and dangers of manhood. “He saw that it spread among small promontories and

inlets of rough sharp rock and the crisping, lapping surface showed stains of purple and

darker blue”( 67,50). Even though the boy is alone he still needs the security of his

mother to fall back on. “There she was a speck of yellow underneath the umbrella.”

he located an “irregular dark gap” ( 68,53), the rite of passage to manhood. This

seemed a place for small children. It was not his beach( 68,52)He also shows sins

also wanted to fit in, be a part of a crowd, to have someone older to look up to, “to be

Some topics in this essay:
Immediately Jerry, Doris Lessing, , rite passage, manhood jerry, practice preparation, rite passage manhood, day jerry, 68 52, local boys, 6751 jerry, disciplining reach, personal goal, security mother,