Theme of Growing up in William Goyen's "Precious Door"

Through reflected relationship among both brothers, story develops theme of growing up and maturing. First, Ben’s words about having a plan with his brother made exciting hope for boy. He started to plan his own future and put goals on it. Furthermore, he hoped to ‘’have enough courage to be this tender as this man was now, to be lucky enough to find someone who would take his tenderness and to have together with someone a plan. At that moment he knew that that was the thing he would look for in his life.’’ (Goyen 4) This ‘’unspeakable tenderness was the gift of Ben and his brother to him.’’ (Goyen 4) Second, boy understands significance of reconciliation and inner forgiveness. ‘’Although there was torment between the two brothers, they have been brought back together in peace.’’ (Goyen 5) Third, the boy admired that despite his brother’s death and his own aggressiveness, Ben took his brother’s body and went relying on God, where the floating stream carried them, lying on the door ‘’Precious door’’ in that way symbolizing significance of continuing their trip together in the direction to their aim dreamed before ‘’We had a plan.’’ (Goyen 4) Furthermore, ‘’in the remoteness and seclusion of their place, through the strangeness of their days, he wept for Ben and his brother so many times he can’t remember. Consequently, ‘’a new feeling had been born in him, obscure then but clearer through time.’’ (Goyen 5) …