The Realisms of a Young Man's Reality: Comparative Essay on "War" and "White Angel"The world is daunting in front of a young boy, he knows everything it is what is put in front of him until he is inevitably forced to grow up. Life acts as a mold to a young male, holding him in place and strengthening him until he is strong enough to stand on his own and be slowly worn down by whatever is placed upon him. In Michael Cunningham's “White Angel” and Timothy Findlay's “War,” two young boys are devastated by the realism of growing up. Bobby/Frisco from Cunningham's “White Angel” and Neil from Findlay's “War,” both live life typically as kids do, but are arbitrarily razed by reality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Everyday actions are habitual and not exceptional; the stories presented by these authors openly offer the lives of young boys who live their lives in habit and unexceptionalism. Bobby goes through each day of his life following his routine and expects nothing more than yesterday. He regularly goes on hikes, as Cunningham demonstrates, which is something Bobby does often: “One of the beauties of living in Cleveland is that every direction feels like progress. I memorized the map” (Cunningham 233). Bobby has memorized the map of Cleveland, then goes on to mention his ability to pinpoint approximate locations, which demonstrates the time and reiteration that Bobby uses in this seemingly typical aspect of his life. Likewise, Neil exemplifies a young boy's ordinary, habitual summer; he lives endless adventures with his friend, and his childhood is once again nourished by the routine of the friendship in front of him. He recounts the events of the summer and states how each year ends just like the last: “…on this farm where the family took us every summer when we were kids” (Findlay 121). Neil is talking about how he visits an older couple's farm every summer, with his family, and now it's simply out of habit. Both Bobby and Neil experience the pull of habitual patterns at a young age; every day, month, summer and year enter a new season but continue with the ancient traditions. Not only are their young lives run by repetition and tradition; their lives are also central to the extraordinary parts of life that shape the foundation of these young males. Bobby is a younger brother and is influenced by his older brother Carlton's actions, as many brothers are. He enthusiastically leans into everything Carlton says and does, mimicking him: “Hours later, we're lying on the couch in front of the television, as ordinary as Wally and the Beav” (Cunningham 231). Bobby's relationship with Carlton is the same as any other normal prepubescent boy, they look up to their role model, awkward and wholeheartedly. Bobby goes through his day step by step behind his brother until the end; and just as Bobby states, it was normal. Neil similarly looks at his older brother wholeheartedly and with embarrassment. He wants to be the one who knows his brother best, evidenced by his comment about how it's not uncommon for adults to confuse his brother Bud's name: “Adults always called Bud 'Buddy.' It was all wrong” (Findlay 122). Neil defends who his brother is in a silent way, not yet very built up by life experiences, to fight him or speak on his behalf. This is another example of how Neil conforms to the generalities of a young male; he closely follows people like his older brother and defends who he is and what he does in hopes of one day becoming his own person.