They realize they are not quite so tough when they actually get themselves into trouble. They get beat up, almost rape someone, and stumble across a dead man floating in the lake.
These college boys realize that this is NOT their lives.
After looking back on the story, it seems like when they stumble across the dead man in the lake (while the car is being destroyed), the boys realize that if they continue down this path, this is where they will end up.
They realize that they aren't really as tough as they have always thought.
I've come across this in real life, having friends that think they are ridiculously tough, thinking they could fight anyone. And then something happens and really snaps you into reality, making you realize that you just aren't as tough as you might have always thought.
I totally agree with your analysis. After the first few pages, I was thinking in my head that somebody oughta kick those kids' asses.
ReplyDeleteAnd then someone did.
Happy ending.
I agree, especially when you say at the end that a lot of people think they are really tough, and then realize they're not so much. Good job!
ReplyDeleteGood read of the epiphany. The narrator tells the story in a complex way--on the one hand he tells it like they are heroes of a crime or war story or a film noir; but then he's always subverting that with irony, like he knows how unreal and absurd it is. He knows it was mostly a performance.
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