Snow By Charles Baxter

The Internal Discomfort of Growing Up The feeling of discomfort is an unpleasant feeling that we have all experienced in some kind of way. When you get embarrassed, you naturally want to be nurtured and hidden behind someone that you respect and honor. However, overcoming the feelings of reliance and dependency is a universal step forward in growing up. The story “Snow” by Charles Baxter discusses how mental discomfort can help you overcome the feeling of being dependent and submissive to others. At the beginning of the story, Ben and Russell heard of a car that drove into a frozen lake, becoming submerged in the ice-cold water. They went to go and explore this sight, and on the way, they picked up Ben's girlfriend Stephanie. After they got to the lake and …show more content…
But in this scene, he demonstrates his beliefs and goes against Ben and Stephanie’s desires. Considering Russell's tone and mood during this confrontation, we can tell that this switch in Russell's mind was a pivotal point in his struggle for identity, and social conflict between himself and society’s expectations. Because of this uncomfortable idea of driving across the frozen lake, he was forced to grow up in that instance; to speak up for himself and follow through with what he wanted to do, while not being influenced by Ben. Throughout this story, the author proves that internal discomfort is a pivotal step forward in becoming independent and autonomous. The author shows this by illustrating Russell’s internal journey, magnifying his reliance and dependency on his brother's influence. Later on in the story, he begins to alter his mindset while fighting for what he believes in, even if it defies his brother and his desires. The author’s purpose is to reflect the importance of decision-making and independence when it comes to maturing and the coming-of-age

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