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The only other people in the story are a group of local older boys that Jerry encounters during his first day exploring the rocky bay. They are bigger than Jerry, don’t speak English, and are very familiar with the features along the shore. Their initial act of swimming through the tunnel is what prompts Jerry to undertake the feat himself. By the end of the story, Jerry no longer seeks the affirmation or acceptance of this group of boys—suggesting that self-assurance relies not on proving oneself to others, but rather to oneself.
Older boys Quotes in Through the Tunnel
The Through the Tunnel quotes below are all either spoken by Older boys or refer to Older boys. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Through the Tunnel
Quotes
The English boy swam toward them but kept his distance at a stone’s throw. They were of that coast; all of them were burned smooth dark brown and speaking a language he did not understand. To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body.
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Soon the biggest of the boys poised himself, shot down into the water, and did not come up. The others stood about, watching. Jerry, after waiting for the sleek brown head to appear, let out a yell of warning; they looked at him idly and turned their eyes back toward the water. After a long time, the boy came up on the other side of a big dark rock, letting the air out of his lungs in a sputtering gasp and a shout of triumph.
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After a time, his heart quieted, his eyes cleared, and he sat up. He could see the local boys diving and playing half a mile away. He did not want them. He wanted nothing but to get back home and lie down.
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Older boys Quotes in Through the Tunnel
The Through the Tunnel quotes below are all either spoken by Older boys or refer to Older boys. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Through the Tunnel
Quotes
The English boy swam toward them but kept his distance at a stone’s throw. They were of that coast; all of them were burned smooth dark brown and speaking a language he did not understand. To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Soon the biggest of the boys poised himself, shot down into the water, and did not come up. The others stood about, watching. Jerry, after waiting for the sleek brown head to appear, let out a yell of warning; they looked at him idly and turned their eyes back toward the water. After a long time, the boy came up on the other side of a big dark rock, letting the air out of his lungs in a sputtering gasp and a shout of triumph.
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
After a time, his heart quieted, his eyes cleared, and he sat up. He could see the local boys diving and playing half a mile away. He did not want them. He wanted nothing but to get back home and lie down.
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