Growing Up

       I have found that age plays a big role in this novel due to the age differing view points and the main character's constant concentration on the difference between an adult and a child. He views authoritative figures  as strong beings that are not scared of anything and have vast knowledge. This is how the main character views Old Mrs. Hempstock, Mrs. Hempstock, and even Lettie. Although Lettie is only 11 years old, he often says that he looks up to Lettie and that she is a head taller than him. He views Lettie as an adult figure because he believes she is knowledgeable and he feels safe with her, often using her presence as a security blanket. He also views grown ups as being taller and stronger than him. This is shown on page 112 when the MC questions why Ursula Monkton is scared of anything because she is a grown up and grown ups are not scared of anything.
          With this question I found Lettie's response noteworthy because she says grown ups look different on the outside, but on the inside they remain children that are scared and afraid of the world and do not know everything. This response connects with how I felt as a child because as a little girl I believed adults and my parents were all knowing and not afraid of anything. However, as I mature I see that humans do grow up on the outside but on the inside they are still afraid of certain things and do not know everything. This struggle between the view points of a child and an adult helps support the author's purpose of a story based on the memory of a child as a middle aged man.