Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu Chapter 1 Discussion
- Thread starter Ketsueki_Hasu
- Start date
- #2
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These kids certainly don't speak like kids, "Shou-chan certainly isn't his usual brisk self today", and "Forgetting lunch money is gonna make us look bad... People might think we're greedy people who want to eat but not pay for it". Perhaps in the 70's they did but either way it makes me laugh really hard.
Morals and themes are a bit on the nose with our protagonist claiming he refuses to grow up, throwing a tantrum that big right before despairing with his school, the line about how if this was any other day the events would have been seen as just another argument but since the incident occurred it isn't- stating quite clearly this is going to be a journey on reflecting on that and growing from it. It's almost like since Shou is a little bad kid who won't grow up he'll be sent to some hellish place to learn the moral values he should be holding and how to act like a grown up. It's almost mean to scare kids like this, I certainly may be convinced to behave if I read this as a child. That being said I think coming of age stories always have room to be great and the messages being so on the nose are actually charming in this case. I bet Shinichi, who was shown to be a good little boy, avoided going to wherever Shou was sent because of just that- he doesn't need to learn a lesson on growing up. I suppose I'll see the validity of these interpretations as we read on ahead.
Shou bought a watch for his mom after saving up money, something he hadn't done before as he'd always beg her for money, and used it in a 'grown up' way. However, when the world showed him how unfair the grown up life is he rebelled by running to go to the school all night and play instead. I bet the fact that he played with a younger kid was supposed to show his maturity as the same as the child he played with. And that act itself drove his mom to attempt to make him grow up a bit more forcefully, to get his life in his hands. It's so clear the 'study guide' Shou thinks she got him is the toy!!! :'(
I adore the art so far. it's simple, efficient at story telling paired with the simple page composition, expressive, and most importantly the action lines and the way the drawings are done capture so much childlike movement. It feels like Shou never stops moving and that must have been the intent. Looking forward to continuing this.
- #3
I bet Shinichi, who was shown to be a good little boy, avoided going to wherever Shou was sent because of just that- he doesn't need to learn a lesson on growing up.
Given the thoughtfulness of Shou's narration and how the circumstances will probably force him to develop to that level of maturity, I imagine your speculation could reflect the author's intentions. Regardless, I envy how you're able to find thematic depth within what might only be surface-level details.
