Introduction
There may be no teenager in the world who does not hope that something extraordinary will happen and that their lives will change for the better instantly. Becoming a famous, influential, and wealthy musician is among the dreams of many adolescents. It is similar to faith in the fairy godmother who will come and make all dreams come true, but the belief becomes more complicated when the person matures.
“Jason Who Would Be Famous” is a short story by Dorothy Allison about an adolescent who dreams of recognition and a miraculous way to solve all his family’s problems. Even though the way he dreams of becoming famous is not typical, his focus on surviving a kidnapping is familiar to most teenagers’ dreams. As a hostage, Jason will become exceptionally talented in storytelling and writing verses, and he will undergo physical training, allowing his father to recognize his abilities (Allison 151). In all cases, Jason’s dreams of fame are motivated by his unconscious desire to reunite with his parents after the divorce and win his father’s love.
Narration
Using the omnipresent narrator’s perspective, which reveals the protagonist’s thoughts, allows readers to see Jason’s most secret thoughts about fame. The narrator explains how Jason dreams realistically about being kidnapped and held captive for a long time as he goes to his mother’s house on numerous pages (Allison 151). He believes that if he survives this terrifying experience, he will become famous worldwide, be listened to, and have his viewpoint valued (Allison 151). The youngster imagines himself being kept in a basement where he will learn remarkable skills, such as writing poems or telling stories, and gain much strength through rigorous exercise (Allison 152). Overall, he daydreams about how much better he would feel if he escaped the kidnapping.
Themes
The text hints at several complex themes that underlie such an incredible fantasy of fame. Jason’s actual traumatic experience explains why he believes pain is the only path to prominence. He says in his mind that “they don’t understand. No one does,” implying that he is an outcast who lacks focus and comprehension (Allison 153). He could be referring to his parents as “they,” who divorced and had a significant impact on the boy’s life. His desire to have “all those muscles” and to have “gotten past being scared” may be a result of past abuse (Allison 158).
Psychologists assume that children who experience physical violence tend to cope with the trauma using dreams where they overcome the person who beat them (Rubenstein 195). These processes are typically unconscious, and children do not acknowledge that they try to win the fight with the abuser when they become strong and brave in their dreams (Rubenstein 196). These assumptions correlate with the situation Jason experiences in the discussed story, which allows stating that his father might have physically abused him in the past. Therefore, the only way he can become remarkable and catch his father’s attention is through incarceration and more pain.
Support to the Thesis
The book contains numerous instances of the father’s picture, which supports the hypothesis that Jason tries to solve his trauma connected with relations in the family. The psychological stress caused by the youngster’s father’s abandonment caused him to have delusions that he would change once he could see his son clearly (Allison 159). Jason cannot envision another means of becoming renowned than by showcasing his ability to tolerate trauma because he has endured much suffering. The child’s separation from his father contributes to the agony that inspires dreams of recognition (Rubenstein 196). The image of their father, Jason, is similar to the profile of the person conducting the interview, who would consider him serious following days in captivity. The peculiar detail is that both men are a generation older than Jason and have thin gray hair (Allison 159). These points emphasize that the adolescent is motivated by his desire to establish an adequate relationship with his father, to overcome past traumatic experiences, and to achieve inner balance.
The vital detail is that Jason’s father is not the only person who needs to see the protagonist’s success. Jason also dreams of proving that he can achieve exceptional results for his mother, who constantly pushes him to study harder and be more diligent (Allison 152). He also wants to become an idol to his peers, which is typical for teenagers trying to find their place in society during this period (Rubenstein 84).
In all cases, Jason lacks recognition from the general community and his parents. For this reason, the content of the dreams about becoming a renowned person is rather typical for this age (Rubenstein 84). In this case, the main point of concern is the strange content of the dreams and traumatizing events that can make Jason exceptional. From the psychological perspective, when teenagers associate pain and suffering with the only way that allows them to attract their parents’ attention, they have serious issues with mental stability to address (Rubenstein 83). It allows stating that, even though dreams of becoming famous are widespread among adolescents, it is strange that Jason dreams of becoming exceptional through pain and survival.
Jason’s life circumstances are complicated, and they explain the negative thinking patterns the adolescent exhibits and uses while dreaming of a better life. His father has abandoned him and speaks poorly of him, so he is shy and teased by his peers in the classroom (Allison 160). As he isolates himself through his daydream, the reader learns about all the traumatic events that have accumulated in Jason’s mind. The readers comprehend Jason’s need for distraction, and perhaps they might share his deformed vision of attracting positive parental attention and gaining recognition. In other words, Jason has been knocked so hard by circumstances that he believes kidnapping to be the only means by which he will ever garner any interest.
Conclusion
The resemblance between the attempts of the traumatized child to win over the abuser in their dreams and the adolescent’s thoughts in the discussed story suggests that Jason’s motivation is to solve psychological problems with his parent. His dreams about anticipating prominence via kidnapping go beyond simply altering Jason’s character. Along with changing himself, he seeks to impact others, especially his father, and how they view him. In general, the complicated, disastrous emotional circumstances of an adolescent who lacks sufficient consideration and empathy create an overwhelming desire to be tortured and become an outstanding individual who survives. The protagonist believes that only a life-changing incident involving himself can alter how he lives and interacts with people, including his father.
Works Cited
Allison, Dorothy. “Jason Who Will Be Famous.” New Stories from the South 2010: The Year’s Best, edited by Amy Hempel, Algonquin Books, 2010, pp. 151-162.
Rubenstein, Mary-Jane. Trauma and Transcendence: Suffering and the Limits of Theory. Fordham University Press, 2018.