Rocket Boys Chapters 15–19 to Epilogue: Analysis

Death, Heroism, and the Reality of Coalwood (Chapters 15–19)

"Stop your sniveling," Doc hissed. "Godamighty, don't you understand what kind of a place this is? The men of this town go down to the pit and hold hands with death every day" (248). In Chapter 18, entitled "The Bump," Homer weeps because he feels guilty that Mr. Bykovski is dead, believing that if it weren't for him, Mr. Bykovski would still be alive. Doc's words, however, bring home the reality that death is always present in Coalwood for the men of the mines. The incident highlights for Homer why his mother is so adamant that he leave Coalwood and seek his fortune and livelihood elsewhere.

The incident also highlights the heroism of Homer's father. Doc says, "a dozen men would have died tonight if it hadn't been for your dad. That's something every son should know" (248). Homer realizes that his father is not simply someone who mocks his ambitions of building rockets. He sees a noble side to his father that he has seldom witnessed before — a side hidden beneath the quarrels with his mother. On one hand, this makes Homer want to emulate his father and save lives rather than create destructive objects. On the other hand, his mother's warnings that life in Coalwood is rapidly dying remain a potent caution.

As a memoir rooted in the real history of Coalwood, West Virginia, Rocket Boys consistently uses individual episodes to illuminate broader truths about community, family, and aspiration. This episode is no exception.

Family Conflict and the Two Sides of Every Parent

This incident shows how parents are seldom entirely good or bad, and how, when parents quarrel, one parent is seldom wholly right or wrong. There are two sides to every issue, and every person can act nobly at times and in petty ways at others. Yet Doc is harsh about human emotions and the natural impulses of a young man — dismissing softness and intellectual curiosity alike. "Don't ever let me see you act like a sob sister again," he says, unintentionally taking sides against the women of Coalwood who are brave in their own right. "Coalwood is no place to be weak" (249). His words reveal a rigid, masculine code that leaves little room for the emotional and intellectual complexity Homer is beginning to inhabit.

Adolescence, Jealousy, and Emotional Growing Pains (Chapters 20–21)

"You drink, don't ya?" ... "Not before school," responds Homer politely to Jim's question (268). Homer's household is now in a state of tenuous peace. His father's eye is permanently damaged from the mine accident, and Homer's parents are at least not fighting constantly. As a junior in high school, Homer also feels more confident. He has gained some respect because of his experimentation, and while he is older, he still feels somewhat uncomfortable with Jim's leering sexual innuendo and banter. When Homer misses the bus, Jim has an opportunity to meet Homer's teacher — a woman Jim is immediately attracted to. "Forget the school bus, kid, you've got a chauffeur any time," Jim says (269).

For the first time, Homer realizes that his feelings about Miss Riley are not entirely platonic. He recognizes that he is "jealous" of Jim — an engineer and a full-grown man — while Homer is still a boy. He nonetheless acknowledges that he owes the man "a good recommendation" (269). It used to be that Miss Riley always showed a special interest in Homer, but now she is interested in learning more about this other man, and Homer must tell all, just as Miss Riley demands of him, because Homer believes in a fair exchange.

This incident, familiar to anyone who has ever had a crush on a teacher or an older authority figure, reminds the reader of how painful adolescence can be for a young man. Homer is intellectually old beyond his years, but he still has a great deal of growing up to do emotionally and physically. He comes to understand how his desire for adult approval, his need for validation as an attractive young man, and his sexual awakening are all intertwined with his drive to prove himself by building rockets.