This document provides a summary of the short story "Manhood" by John Waine. It describes the plot, which centers around Mr. Willison pushing his son Rob to participate in boxing and other sports to prove his masculinity. While Mr. Willison wants Rob to excel athletically to overcome his own lack of opportunity, his wife Grace disagrees due to safety concerns. The summary characterizes the central characters of stubborn father Mr. Willison, his insecure son Rob, and protective mother Grace. The theme is described as a father's desire for his son to fulfill social expectations of masculinity and the tensions this causes within the family.

1. “MANHOOD”
Group B :
Aguiló,Luciana
Aschieri, María Emilia
Berman, Geraldine
Bertona, María

2. “Manhood”
(1980)
By John Waine

3. Author´s biography
 John Waine (14 March 1925 – 24 May
1994), was born in in Stoke-on-Trent (a city
located in the west of England
within Staffordshire)
 He was an English poet, novelist, critic,
freelance journalist and author.
 He obtained a B.A. and a M.A.
 Realistic writer aware of social problems.
 Known for his critical views on English
society.

4. Summary of the story
 Mr. Willison never had the chance to box or
to row, he didn't even get a bicycle. And he
doesn't want his son to grow up with the
same wretched physical heritage that he
grew up with.
 That's why he makes his son do a long
bicycle tour and doesn't want Rob to rest for
too long along the tour.
 His son has to try to break his fatigue
barrier.

5.  The reason for the cycling tour was to give the
installer some time to fix up a present Mr.
Willison bought for his son: a punch-ball.
 When they get home, Rob goes to his room,
because his tired and his mother starts
protesting.
 Rob tells his father that he didn´t get in to the
football-team. His father is very disappointed.
But when he tells him that he did get in the
boxing-team, his father is pleased.

6.  Mrs Willison doesn't want Rob to fight
because it's too dangerous.
 But finally they agree that Rob can go boxing,
but he has to stop after the tournament.
 Rob and his father start to train together.
 But the day of the tournament, Rob gets ill,
he thinks he has appendicitis.
 His father calls Rob's coach: Mr. Granger, but
he doesn't know of anything: Rob's school
doesn't go in for boxing.

7. Characters of the story
 Mr. Willison:
 Late 30s/early 40s
 He is five feet eight tall and average
height, rather fat. He is not as fit as his son.
 Very ambitious because wants his
son to become an athlete.
 Intensely involved in his son´s life.
 He is very demanding, exigent and
strict to his son, he pushes him all the time.

8.  He can be stubborn: he´s always
arguing with his wife.
 Has a very strong concept of what
“being a man” is or what it´s considered
“masculine or manly”.
Rob:
 Mr. and Mrs. Willison´s son.
 He´s 13, nearly 14, years old.
 He´s five feet eight height and rather
thin. He is probably a fit boy.

9.  Seems to be a little insecure because
he does everything his father wants and he
hardly ever complains about anything.
 He´s worried about what his father
thinks and wants their relationship to work. He
also wants to be accepted by Mr. Willison.
 He´s not as keen on sports as his
father, that´s why he puts a lot on effort and
sometimes tries to please him.
 He´s afraid of facing his father.

10.  Grace Willison:
 She´s Rob´s mom and Mr. Willison
´s wife.
 We don´t know much about her
physical appearance, but she´s probably in
her late 30s/early 40s.
 She´s hysterical as a result of her
overprotecting Rob.
She doesn´t agree at all with Mr.
Willison and what he is doing with their son.

11.  She´s always trying to protect Rob.
 She stays firm about her opinion, but
she sometimes has to accept some of the
things her husband wants.
 She´s sensitive and has a very strong
instinct of motherhood.

12.  Her name (Grace) has a Latin origin and
means “sense of propriety and consideration for
others” or “a pleasing or charming quality” 
this, and the fact taht Mr. Wilison´s name is not
mentioned, can suggest that the author have
chosen this name in purpose, to tell us
something about Rob´s mother´s personality.

13. Theme
 “What we want our children to be”.
 Relationships between father and son.
 Influence of society on a family, what society
requires, communication barrier between the
parents and between the parents and
children.

14. “Manhood”
The state of being a man, especially
a brave one, full of virility.