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Chapter 18
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in About a Boy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Chosen Family
Coming of Age and Maturity
Alienation and Mental Illness
Identity, Pop Culture, and Fitting In
Summary
Analysis
Against Marcus’s wishes, Fiona informs the school’s headmistress, Mrs. Morrison, about the boys who stole his trainers, forcing Marcus to discuss the ordeal with her in person. While waiting outside her office, he is joined by Ellie McCrae, an infamous 10th grader who wears black lipstick and is constantly getting in trouble. Trying to be polite, Marcus says hello to Ellie. Although she doesn’t seem particularly enthused, she explains she’s in trouble for wearing a sweatshirt that doesn’t align with the dress code. The sweatshirt features a man who Marcus thinks “[looks] a little bit like Jesus, except more modern and with bleached hair.” Ellie tells him the man’s name is “Kirk O’Bane,” a famous footballer, but Marcus notes that the man looks more like a musician than an athlete.
This section demonstrates the clash between Marcus’s desire for autonomy and his mother’s protective actions. Fiona’s decision to inform the headmistress, despite Marcus’s wishes, underscores their ongoing struggle. Ellie’s nonconformity and trouble with the school’s dress code highlight different ways she intrigues Marcus, who admires her air of defiance. Marcus’s confusion about Kurt Cobain’s identity reflects his naivety and unfamiliarity with popular culture, emphasizing his youth and unique musical upbringing.
Themes
When Mrs. Morrison suggests that Marcus hasn’t tried hard enough to “[keep] out of [the bullies’] way,” Marcus loses his temper and his patience, ultimately yelling at the headmistress. Despite her demands for Marcus to sit back down, he instead walks out of her office, a choice that surprises even Marcus. He decides to keep going and leaves the school altogether, labeling himself an official “truant” and wondering if all truants begin their truancy this way. Ultimately, though, Marcus doesn’t want to be the kind of person who ditches school; he just wants someone to understand him.
The headmistress’s suggestion that Marcus avoid bullies infuriates him, highlighting his frustration with being blamed for his own victimization—first by his English teacher, and now by the head of his school. Marcus’s outburst and decision to leave the office—and the school—is perhaps his most pronounced moment of rebellion and assertion of agency thus far in the story. This act of truancy, though impulsive, speaks to Marcus’s need for the adults in his life to understand and support him, rather than discipline him or merely provide him with avoidance strategies he already uses. His internal conflict about his truancy underscores his struggle between conforming to expectations and seeking genuine empathy, marking a crucial step in his quest for self-identity and autonomy.
Themes
