Skippy Bedelle / His Sentimental Progress From the Urchin to the Complete Man of the World

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25465

Title

Skippy Bedelle / His Sentimental Progress From the Urchin to the Complete Man of the World

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Owen Johnson's classic coming-of-age tale follows Skippy Bedelle, a boarding school student whose rigid, boyish worldview is shattered by the arrival of the beautiful Nuisance Potterman. Through a season of romance, jealousy, and disillusionment, Skippy evolves from a defensive urchin into a sentimental man of the world, navigating the complexities of love and growing up.

Summary up to 500 words

Owen Johnson's *Skippy Bedelle* chronicles the sentimental and psychological evolution of its protagonist from a prejudiced teenager into a mature man of the world. At the outset, fifteen-year-old Skippy Bedelle views the feminine sex with monastic contempt, regarding girls as unmitigated nuisances and sources of confusion. His worldview is shaped by a history of sisterly torment and a defensive, belligerent attitude toward social rituals involving women. He idolizes athletic heroes like Turkey Reiter and Charlie de Soto, yet remains unaware that these figures are already navigating the complexities of romance. The narrative trajectory shifts dramatically upon Skippy's arrival at Lawrenceville and his introduction to Nuisance Potterman, the sister of his roommate, Hippo. Nuisance represents an idealized beauty who captivates Skippy and his friends instantly. This encounter forces Skippy to confront a controlling idea that alters his entire existence. He pledges to protect Hippo, a promise that evolves into a deep, consuming love for Nuisance herself. This transition marks the beginning of his internal struggle; he must sacrifice his usual independence and humor, enduring the pangs of jealousy and the awkwardness of social expectations. The story explores the disillusionment inherent in youth. Skippy faces the harsh reality that love is not always reciprocal or permanent. The climax arrives when Nuisance announces her engagement to another man, Harold B. Drinkwater. This heartbreak serves as the catalyst for Skippy's maturation. He learns that true maturity involves accepting life's disappointments and understanding that women are not merely nuisances but complex individuals. The novel concludes with Skippy resolving to move forward, having shed his urchin-like prejudices. He gains wisdom, adopting a more mature perspective on relationships, effectively completing his sentimental progress from a boy defined by resentment to a complete man capable of understanding the world's nuances.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Schools