The backdrop in opposition to which S.E. Hinton’s novel, Rumble Fish, unfolds is an important ingredient in understanding the characters’ struggles and motivations. This setting, characterised by city decay and social isolation, profoundly impacts the lives of Rusty-James and his brother, Motorbike Boy. For instance, the dilapidated buildings and empty streets mirror the characters’ emotions of vacancy and hopelessness, contributing to the general environment of despair.
Understanding the importance of this localized setting is crucial as a result of it highlights the pervasive results of poverty and lack of alternative. The absence of optimistic function fashions and constructive actions pushes the youth towards violence and petty crime. Moreover, the historic context of the novel, typically related to the late Sixties and early Seventies, additional explains the disillusionment and social unrest prevalent throughout that period. The struggles confronted by the characters mirror a broader societal malaise.
