Becoming a man is not a condition that is earned through experience and age; it is a maturing part of life that requires one to become human through courage, suffering, and the ability to accept the consequences of one’s actions.

Becoming a man is a process that can’t be determined and evaluated; nevertheless people can say almost for sure whether this or that boy has grown up and become a man. The difference between a boy and a man, in my opinion, lies in the inner feeling of a person, the inner pivot that is then reflected in actions and decisions of a person. However the process of becoming a man can’t be defined by the sum of knowledge and experience that the person has achieved throughout life. Referring to the story “Flight” by John Steinbeck, the best description for this fact and maybe the main significant idea of the story is given by Pepe mother’s words: “A boy becomes a man when a man is in need. Remember this. I have known 40-year old boys, because there was no need in a man”.

The story “Flight” tells us about the tragic death of 19-year old Pepe Torres, about the way he had to pass to become a man, about the qualities that he needed to choose this way, the way that symbolized the journey from youth to manhood.

In the beginning of the story young Pepe kept telling that he was a man, but these were only words, and his mother only answered “You’re a clumsy” to this. However after Pepe’s first alone visit to Mrs. Rodriguez everything changed. Pepe had an argument with a drunken man and killed him. Pepe’s words “I’m now a man, Mom. That man called me the names I couldn’t allow him” show that firstly, he had enough courage to start an argument with a grown-up and apparently drunk man, secondly, he had enough dignity to oppose this man and even kill him not to let the man outrage Pepe and his family name, and thirdly, he had enough will-power and ability to accept and even handle the consequences of his action that he chose on coming home to tell his mother that he was “going to the mountains”. Pepe had to pass through terror and suffering, oh his way home and on his last journey to the mountains, but the decision he made was the decision of a man, not of a boy. This incident may not have happened, and to many people such trial of manhood never comes, but since this moment has come, there is no way back… it seems that only the destiny makes the decision who should and who shouldn’t pass this test and become a Man.

The incident has changed Pepe both inside and outside. Pepe’s mother could notice it from his look. This can be illustrated by such phrase from the story: “He has changed. It seemed that the fragile line left his chin. His mouth was less full than earlier, the lines of lips became straighter but stronger, but most of all the eyes were changed. There was no more either risibility or shyness in them. They were sharp, clear and purposeful”.

After Pepe started his journey to the mountains, he realized what was waiting for him: the pursuers, long way to nowhere filled with suffering and the danger to be killed anytime. Again, there was enough courage in him and the ability to handle the consequences of his actions to start the journey. Pepe had an alternative: he could stay at home and wait until he was caught; but his mother told “Don’t wait until they catch you like a chick”. She was mature enough to let him make this decision. And this was the choice of a man, the journey to manhood. Pepe has been doing all he could; there was a little he could do against his skilled pursuers, but he was going this way and struggling until his last breath: and this also was the choice of a man.

This painful and scary trial of becoming a man is unique for each person, it may come sooner or later, or perhaps even never come for those who haven’t deserved this, but if this trial has come, you either pass it or fail, and no such other trial will be offered.

The only wish of a boy to become a man is not enough, and one may boast a lot with his power, strength or knowledge, but the outer demonstration doesn’t make a real Man out of a boy. This is why the leaders of boy’s groups are not always the strongest and cleverest ones – but rather the ones with a strong inner pivot and the three above-mentioned qualities: courage, suffering, and the ability to accept the consequences of own actions.