Descending into Darkness: Contrasts in The Wanton Troupers and "Araby" Anonymous College

Alden Nowlan’s poetic account of young Kevin O’Brien’s coming of age in The Wanton Troopers is a beautiful yet tragic narration mirroring that of Nowlan’s own life. The book develops around the relationships and discoveries Kevin makes about himself and his small town of Lockhartville. Throughout the book perpetual periods of darkness and lightness envelope the world in which Kevin grows up. The constant flipping between good and bad ultimately inhibits Kevin’s development in the long run. Like the Wanton Troopers, author James Joyce also uses the running theme of light and dark in his short story “Araby” to show the different aspects of life that are encased in light versus dark and seen as good versus bad. In addition, both works explore how character’s changes and relationship is shaped around this idea of light and dark. Each author expertly portrays a transformation using this theme to guide and advance their respective storylines.

'The Wanton Troopers wastes no time throwing readers into the mercurial O’Brien household. Within the first ten pages, the theme of light and dark is introduced as Kevin’s angelic mother Mary O’Brien, and a demonic portrayal of his father Judd O’Brien. For Kevin, his mother acted as a shelter...