¶ … 1998 novel About a Boy addresses the gamut of human relationships within the context of post-modern life. Will and Marcus are unlikely friends. A generation gap apart, they seem to have little in common until they start to bond. Will Freeman is 36 years old, and a kid in many ways. He lies so that people will like him, and does not have a job because of his inheritance. Marcus is a 12-year-old boy whose mother is depressed and whose peers are bullied; Marcus seems destined toward stunted emotional growth and development until he meets Will. Will likely sees himself in Marcus, which is why their friendship was meaningful to both parties. The fact that their relationship becomes transformative and helps the two of them grow offers hope that all people can come to appreciate their quirks, preserving individuality while maintaining healthy relationships. About a Boy is therefore about the struggle to find friendship and meaning in the post-modern world.
Taking place in London, the story shows how the urban environment has not necessarily fostered intimacy in human relationships. People live in tight quarters in a city, but that does not mean that neighbors become friends. There is little social cohesion in the modern world. Marcus' parents are divorced. At the onset of the novel, Marcus has an immature understanding of the impact a divorce or breakup can have on people's lives -- and not even just the parties involved. "You wouldn't believe that so much could change just because a relationship ended," Marcus muses (Hornby 3). However, young Marcus remains unaware of the extent to which his mother's failed relationships are impacting his life and his ability to form relationships with other people. He watches a string of unsuccessful relationships between his mom and boyfriends, none of them fruitful and none of them helpful to his depressed mother. The home environment was unstable and unhealthy: "When Marcus and his mom argued, you could hear...
His first day of school says it all: the anxiety with which he watches the clock. Before he even arrives at school, Marcus knows that the intensity of the new social environment will be difficult for a boy who is aware of being shy. "Not being right for school was a big problem," Marcus notes (Hornby 12-13). Marcus is aware of being "weird," and also seems to know that "part of the reason he was weird was because his mum was weird," (Hornby 15). Marcus feels "different," and because he feels different, he feels "uncomfortable," (Hornby 16). Thus, About a Boy presents the core challenge of how a quirky, introverted individual can develop a strong sense of self-confidence. Is it possible for Marcus to remain true to himself while also fitting in with his peers? Marcus cannot even find an effective means to get along with his teachers; it seems as if he is on another planet. The only peer Marcus is able to bond with is Ellie, but their relationship is skewed and not based on genuine intimacy but on a mutual need to protect themselves against the outside world.
Will's issues with interpersonal relationships prove to be almost the opposite of Marcus's. For 36-year-old bachelor Will, socializing is not the issue. Unlike Marcus, Will likes to socialize and he likes parties. He prides himself on his string of one-night stands and brief relationships with girls. Will also prides himself on his not having to work for his money and for being generally "cool." What's more, Will does not like children -- or at least he doesn't at the onset of the novel. "I would rather eat one of Barney's dirty diapers" than have his own family, he states (Hornby 9). Will comes across…
