The major part of Shaw’s book, The Jack-Roller, discusses the life-story and history of a felonious boy and his re-alignment to ordinary social life. In the beginning, however, the author tackles the worth of the boy’s life-story, gives the reader a thorough history of the difficulties in Stanley’s behavior and gives a vivid picture of his cultural as well as social background. This genetic-historical memoirs show the character’s own view of society and reveals his behavioral evolution over time.
The Jack Roller creates an illustration of the conceptual advantages that have been brought about by its method. The book first brings the points that the actor to the fore by following the logic wherein varied actions are taken into consideration depending on how the subject views the alternatives and opportunities. Second, it gives a delightful view regarding the context in which life can be conditioned (Shaw).
The book take into account on the factors that make juveniles tend to engage in violence at an early age. The book depicts instances of the male youths being involved in crime acts more than their female counterparts. In this book, Stanley is positioned to have a self-definition; there is a progressive change in his life, which is greatly influenced by the friends he interacts with and the environment he finds himself in over the years. Stanley, at the age of sixteen, is very different unlike at the age of twenty-two, his character and behaviors are changed and totally distinct from those he had in his early years. This change is evident from following his deeds and actions over a period of some years. The book can establish mechanisms of his societal control in his courtship and marriage, mentor relations and his work, that significantly regulated his start of the transformation (Bernad and Rahman).
Juvenile delinquency has also formed an integral part of the book. There are instances of the youths engaging in criminal activities that make them land in a lot of trouble with their parents and also with the authorities. The juvenile delinquency has been shown to have been present for a much extended period of time. It is still rampant even in the present days; this has been demonstrated clearly by the behaviors of Stanly over the years as a teenager and the changes that took place in his life due to the environment he found himself in.
The shortcomings of delinquencies are that most of the young people waste a lot of productive time in inappropriate behaviors that do not add value to themselves. They engage in risky behaviors that put them at the risk of serving long terms in juvenile jails if found guilty of their crimes. There is a high tendency of the male children being involved in criminal acts due to the freedom given to them by the parents and the guardians. The parents fail to monitor them closely like they do to the girls and as a result, the boys end up engaging in some irresponsible behaviors. The parent is partly to blame for the ill behaviors of the children at their early age since they are still under their scare.
Juvenile delinquency has for long led to adverse impacts on the lives of the people involved. But there still instances of change, just like in the case of Stanley. Delinquency is significantly attributed to the environments that we are exposed to and the people we mostly relate with.
Works Cited
Bernard, H R. Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Lanham. Md: AltaMira Press, 2011. Print.
Shaw, Clifford R. The jack-roller: A delinquent boy's own story. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013.
