Blog 5
One particular scene that I want to discuss regards the cleaning of the maggot-infested pot. I feel that within the first half of the book, this scene embodies some of the teen/coming-of-age dynamics that embody this book. Through the dynamics around the distribution of labor and the unwillingness to fully cooperate on chores, we see a divergence between Benji and Reggie... The first aspect is the concept of dibs— in the text, it was mentioned that the previous system that characterized their childhood was "even Stephen". Benji acknowledges the quasi-passing of this system and the fraternity between him and Reggie: "[a]s former twins, Reggie and I were driven by the fear of being shortchanged" (Whitehead, 73). The identities of each brother have diverged along with their childhood; their similarities acquiesced and the differences emerged more clearly. Moreover, the "drifting-apart-ness" is furthered in the idea of "Thou Shalt Not Clean Thy Brother