To put deceiving to an end and start taking responsibilities would be a hard mission for someone who lives life simply without caring about anything and deceives others only for women and sex. A character in the novel Will, is a thirty-six year old behaving like a teenager is an example. His immature and selfish assumptions of others can be seen in quotes like "Marcus was not a brass-rubbing sort of child, or a puppet theatre sort of a child or even a child at all; at twelve his childhood was over." This interprets to the audience that he never cared to think considerately for Marcus, despite the fact that he knew that Marcus had to struggle with a mother who committed suicide. This problem is only recognised by Will later in the story when the characters Marcus and Rachel come along and they develop a relationship with Will. Will's sympathy for Marcus and his feelings to become responsible for Marcus comes and goes every now and then and the two become closer to each other. Also, Rachel helps and influences Will to become more mature with his lies and responsibilities. This is shown in the quote 'Suddenly Will was fearful. He had never had any kind of intuition or empathy or connection in his life before, but he had it now.' Hornby's use of characterisation in making Marcus form relationships with Will and for Will to like Rachel helps to ruminate over his self-identity.
Likewise, Fiona, who is Marcus's suicidal mother, is suffering from great depression and is too occupied in her own love life. This drags on to the extent in where she does not realise Marcus has a difficult time as well. Her signs of depression can be seen on her note given to Marcus before her suicidal attempt, which is a symbol of Fiona's selfishness. This eventually leads to Marcus becoming more responsible by taking care of Fiona and leads Fiona to lose her name as a mother. Her selfishness can also be seen through the dialogue between Fiona and Will. Will claims that Marcus wants a father as he is lonely, which is the reason in why Marcus kept following Will. By using this dialogue, Hornby made the situation seem like a major event in the book as this was where Fiona failed to realise how much she struggled with Marcus as a single mother. Fiona was so wrapped up in her own problems that she fails to see what is happening in Marcus’s life which is an identity of hers that she sometimes realises but struggles to change; overcoming from her depression and start becoming more mature as a mother.
Further, Identity is portrayed throughout the novel since it involves an exploration of conflict in who the characters are. Sometimes one's relationship with another may influence or confuse what their self-identity is. Hornby demonstrates his thoughts and ideas on Identity through quotes.
Marcus is known to be the oldest twelve year old in the world as his style in fashion and music is quite old fashioned; the influence in which he got from his mother, Fiona. Fiona gives signs of depression by committing suicide and not being the same mother she was in Marcus's life before. This brought Marcus to turn to Will for his true thoughts and feelings: 'I don't know what I need. Only Will knows what I need.' This is also interpreting that Marcus doesn't know what to do with his life as he is puzzled and confused in himself. His level of conformity brings others to bully and omit him from the social world which Will realises and helps to try and change Marcus's habits and appearance. With a mother who is locking herself up with her sorrows, and the rude attitudes that are given to Marcus at school, causes a pinnacle and most difficult turning point in Marcus's life since he has to become independent and responsible. Independent, since he does not have anyone to rely on for his social life and responsible for his mother, since he cannot live the usual standards of normal families with a suicidal mother.
Thus, relationships can cause conflict on one's self identity by interactions between humans. This is clearly demonstrated in 'About a Boy' through the themes Growing Up and Identity and the characters Will, Fiona and Marcus.
