The theme of growing up and facing reality is prevalent. For instance, in 'To Build a Fire', the man has to face the unforgiving nature which is a harsh reality. Rebellion can also be a theme, like Holden Caulfield's rebellion against the adult world in 'The Catcher in the Rye'. And the theme of first love or romantic awakening is common too, as seen in 'Araby' where the boy experiences his first feelings of love.
Identity is a very common theme. These stories often show the struggle of the main character to understand and accept their gay identity. For example, in many stories, the character may initially be confused or in denial. Another common theme is first love. It could be a beautiful and sometimes painful experience as they navigate relationships with other boys. Also, family acceptance or lack thereof is often explored. Some families are supportive, while others may be a source of conflict.
Self - discovery is a very common theme. The characters often have to figure out their sexual identity, which is a big part of coming of age. Another is first love. Just like in any coming of age story, the experience of falling in love for the first time is crucial, but in gay coming of age stories, it also comes with the added complexity of same - sex attraction. Also, acceptance, both self - acceptance and acceptance from family and society, is often explored as many gay characters face challenges in being accepted as they are.
One common theme is self - discovery. In these novels, the protagonists often try to figure out who they are, their values, and their place in the world. Another theme is the loss of innocence. As they grow up, they face situations that make them see the harsher realities of life. For example, in 'The Catcher in the Rye', Holden Caulfield loses his innocence as he experiences the phoniness of the adult world.
Love and relationships are often themes. It could be romantic love or family love. In a coming of age short story, the main character might learn about love's power, its pain, or how it changes them. For instance, in 'A&P' by John Updike, the young cashier's encounter with the girls in the store and his subsequent actions are related to his budding understanding of attraction and the consequences of standing up for what he thinks is right in relation to those he has feelings for.
The shortcoming could be the limited perspective. Some short coming of age stories only show one side of the coming - of - age experience, like only focusing on the positive aspects of growing up or only the negative. This doesn't give a full and realistic view. Also, the dialogue can be stilted. In an attempt to convey the message quickly, the conversations between characters might not feel natural, lacking the nuances and hesitations that real - life conversations have.
One common theme is the discovery of self - identity. As the young characters in his stories go through their coming - of - age journey, they often question who they are. Another theme is the loss of innocence. Facing the horrors that King presents, whether it's a monster or a human - created evil, strips the characters of their innocent view of the world. Also, there's the theme of friendship. In some stories, the bond between friends is tested by the terrifying situations they find themselves in.
Family also plays a crucial role. It can be a source of support or conflict. In some stories, like 'Moonlight', Chiron's relationship with his mother and the surrogate father - figure in his life greatly impact his coming - of - age journey. The family dynamics can be complex and shape the character's growth.
Self - discovery is a common theme. As young characters grow up, they start to understand their own bodies and desires, which can be seen as sexy in a sense. For example, in many stories, a young girl might realize her own attractiveness for the first time.
Isolation is also a theme sometimes. Young gay characters may feel isolated from their peers because of their sexual orientation. However, through their love stories, they often find a connection that helps them break out of that isolation. For instance, in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Aristotle at first feels alone until he meets Dante and they start to build their relationship.
Well, fear of the unknown is a biggie. When you're coming of age, there's a whole world out there that you don't understand yet, and horror stories play on that. Isolation is another. Maybe the teen or young adult gets separated from their friends or family and has to face the horror alone. And then there's the theme of transformation. The character might start off as a normal kid but then something in the horror experience changes them, either physically or mentally, into someone different.