The Fleeting Nature of Childhood

Maguire explores the fleeting nature of childhood as Dirk must mature quickly in order to survive life on his own. At the same time, though, the conventional characteristics of childhood that he missed out on follow him throughout his life. Part 1 focuses on Dirk when he is a young boy. He has a distant relationship with the old man and old woman, which he must suspend all together after hearing them plot to get rid of him following his return from death. At this early stage in his life, Dirk decides to leave behind everything that is familiar to him and start to be independent. He succeeds in surviving, but he loses the opportunity to be youthful and innocent.

This decision results in Dirk feeling that there is a wedge between him and other children. He fails to understand their fixation in...