After having left the villa, the setting changes to the still and silent country. The boy starts out on a sandy path, and the start of the countryside is foreshadowed when he begins to walk “along a sandy lane which led into the country”. This marks the safe and soft path of sand making its way into an unknown terrain. While the minor apprehension of being out on a forbidden walk fill the boy’s mind, the rough, unwelcoming texture of the grass adds to the fear, for he describes them as “harsh spears”.
As he draws nearer to the focused black speck in the distance, there is the first mention of the presence of insects when a “haze of flies” suddenly lifts to reveal the true object masked behind them. Though flies in their nature are usually harmless, the author gives them a formidable and unwanted persona through descriptions like “loathsome”, “angrily”, and “buzzing like dynamos”. The creatures are mentioned a second time as the boy now frightened and los,t hurriedly searches for his way back. He states that nothing seems alive except the insects. At that point, the loud buzzing of the insects is told to be”the only sound audible” making them even more intimidating. From this words like “closing in” and “cornering” come to the mind of the reader.
The following lines reveal much about the boy’s character, “I hated to be dependent on other people. They never wanted to do what I wanted to do.” The first, of which, perhaps divulges more than the second. From the first line itself, we can learn that the boy craves independence and is accustomed to being dependent. It is obvious there have been few prior instances such as this for the author uses the word “hated” instead of “hate”. Also, from the connotation of the sentence, it is understood the boy does not possess a very cordial or social nature. This is apparent by means of strong, straightforward words like “hated” and “other people” creating a distance between him and people around him. The second line further reinforces these thoughts as he mentions his prime fear as not having the liberty to do that which he pleases. This statement brings words like “adamant”, “headstrong”, and “uncompromising” to the reader’s mind regarding the boy. Also, by using “never” the boy can be labeled as somewhat of a stubborn pessimist.
In the beginning paragraphs, an overall summary of the boy’s personality can be formulated. Few main words which call upon attention include “imprisoned”, “too hot”, and “unhappy”. From them the reader creates an opinion of a spoilt boy, as he gives complete disregard to the peril behind his actions and the rationale for his guardian’s restrictions, and sees it instead as a hinder to his independence and freedom. The extreme of his anger is divulged by his ‘fierce’ manner of hitting the tennis ball, hinting an existing short temper. His temper soon subsides as he stops playing when it becomes “too hot” for him and his mood rather “unhappy” for him to carry on. From this the reader unveils a sense of immaturity in the boy, for he is speedily irate of minor issues, and reacts similarly to that of a child. This suspected rebellious adolescent nature is justified when the boy persuades himself to leave the house in full awareness that is restricted from doing so. This known defiance is clearly understood when he mentions an outside city he was ‘longing’ to explore. This reveals the fact there are certain constraints keeping him from fulfilling his desire.
By evaluating the first four paragraphs the main elements of conflict are discerned. The boy’s struggle against his guardian’s restrictions due an unsafe outside environment involves a man vs. circumstances conflict. In addition, his conflict with himself or man vs. himself is obvious as he finds the need to convince and justify himself knowing what he’s doing is wrong and prohibited. The writer builds certain suspense in the passage, by changing the mood of an excited, pleasant atmosphere into one of fear and apprehension. This is done by introducing the change in terrain from a comfortable, uniform path of sand, to a deranged array of intimidating spears of grass. Furthermore, by focusing on an unknown object in the distance, suspense grows as the boy draws nearer and nearer to it, while contemplating what it actually is. The change in color of the speck and growing loudness of the flies adds to the building tension. The alternations in the tone of the writing aids the suspense greatly, for the author diverts from words like “dreamlike stillness” to “ruined cottages crumbling into the sea”.
The author gives the landscape a life of its own through personification of the surroundings. For instance, the bushes “squeaked and grated”, and the pillars and scarves of dust “rose up from the ground, eddying and swirling themselves”. The writer’s word choice is somewhat cynical as they provide a negative connotation to the reader’s mind. This creates a rather threatening feel for the landscape. Upon discovering the human head, the boy describes the whole plain and bare hills to have been “tinged with horror”. This suggests that in the boy’s eyes even the mood of the scenery has changed. The very hills he was so eager to explore suddenly became daunting and agitating.
The panic in the boy’s heart is openly emphasized by phrases like “my stomach churning”, “waves of sickness”, and “I did not know what to do”. His panic is combined with confusion and tension, apparent when he tries to avoid passing the human head again. He describes the route as“pathless sand” and his shoes becoming “full and heavy”. From this author makes it seem as though the landscape is trying to hold him back, for the grass too is described to be “as dry and sharp as knives”, portraying the landscape to be even more threatening. Words like “towering”, “buzzing”, “slap”, and “desperate” aid in creating the terrorizing atmosphere.
The main theme underlying the passage is the sudden, unexpectedness of things. The suspense of the unknown object in the distance, the discovery of a gruesome, unnerving human head on a harmless stroll, followed by the boy’s desperation to return to his safe haven and being unable to do so, all of which justify the principal idea behind the passage.
