The Lords of Discipline: Coming of Age and Painful Experiences.
 | About UsWill McLean develops through out the Lords of Discipline. How does the painful experiences Will McLean has through out the novel affect his coming of age? |
Quotes
"I had discovered a power unknown to me and i would use it. The Ten could match my strategies, but not my fury" (500).
---This quote happens just after Pig commits suicide because he got kicked out of The Institute. Will's coming of age is apparent after he watched his paisan commit suicide. Will grew up instantly when he realized what Pig was doing and who was responsible.
"I threw it high, lobbing it like a grenade through the window, the glass shattering with a surreal cleanliness, and continuing its arc, almost in slow motion and somehow dreamlike, the brick exploded into the chandelier and the room, suddenly silent, burst into a dazzling shower of ruined glass" (437).
---Will develops after watching Pearce being severely hazed by members of The Ten. He decides the only way to stop The Ten is to interrupt the hazing and try to protect Pearce. He advances in his growing up were effected and helped him advance to standing up for others.
"I had struck that face and seen blood form its lips. For three years I had resisted all temptations to engage in the services and rituals of the plebe system. I had not screamed at at plebes or starved them at a mess or humiliated them on shower-room floors [...] I realized that i had, at last, fulfilled my destiny and had taken my place as a cadreman" (422)
---Will shows coming of age through his attack on Dan Molligen. He hits Molligen in the face while Pig, Mark and Will are hazing Molligen on the train tracks. Will went through the plebe system and his upperclassmen years never hitting or hazing a plebe or anyone else until he releases all of his anger on Molligen and finally hits someone. Will changes when he brings Molligen into the woods to find out more about The Ten. He develops as a character. He becomes someone who stands up for what he believes in. He stands up when Pig is on trial for stealing gasoline. He stands up for Pearce when he is being hazed. He decides that he will get the outcome he wants, starting with the first hit to Molligen's face.
