Tex is a novel by S. E. Hinton, published in 1979. It was adapted to the film in 1982, which starred Matt Dillon. The book (like Rumble Fish and That Was Then, This Is Now) takes place in the same universe as Hinton's first book The Outsiders, but in a rural town called Garyville, Oklahoma, a fictional suburb of Tulsa
Tex,and his older brother Mason live by themselves while their father his touring rodeos. Tex is blissfully happy with his life. He likes the simple things and taking it easy. Mason on the other hand must step into a parental role when their father is gone for five months touring rodeos. Their mother is dead, so it's just the 2 of them fighting to make ends meet. These boys' lives are slowing being turned upsidedown.
Plot
Mason sells Tex's horse and they get in a fight. Tex is very mad about it. The story is set in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
Pop is never home. Mason finds out that he has an ulcer. Tex is accused of shop lifting. On the way home Mason and Tex pick up a hitch hiker then almost get killed because he has a gun and he takes them to the state border but the cops come and help them. Tex and Johnny put caps in the typewriters and get into big trouble.
Tex finds out that Pop isn't his real father, his mom had him with another guy while Pop was in jail.
Tex gets shot and everyone visits him in the hospital. Mason decides not to go to college and they decide to go fishing in the morning.
Narrative Conflicts
Person v. Person: When Tex and Mason get into the big fight because Mason told Tex's horse. Person v. Self: The way Tex feels about Jamie. Person v. Technology: When Tex gets shot. Person v. Group: When the store people think that Tex is stealing but he actually isn't.
Characters
Tex 14 year old boy. He has a scar over his right eye brow from where Mason hit him, he has a chipped tooth, long golden brown hair that is the same colour as his eyes and dimples with a boney face. He loves horses, especially his horse Negrito. His best friend is Johnny Collins. His older brother is Mason who is a father figure to him. He likes Jamie but her Dad doesn't like Tex because he thinks he is a bad influence.
Mason 17 year old boy, Pop's only child. He loves to play Basketball and he is Tex's father figure. Loves to go fishing. He is tall, fit and has black hair and brown eyes with a strong bone structure. Tex says he looks like "a proud hawk". (p. 86)
Jamie Collins She has a reputation for being a mean person. She has almost black hair and blue eyes. She never gets grounded or spanked. She uses threats to get her way and she is sarcastic when she speaks to people. She is also controlling and she believes strongly about women's rights and she is flirty.
Themes
The themes that are in Tex are romance when Tex likes Jamie. Freedom v. Responsibility when Mason wants to go to college. There is family resentment between Mason and his Father and conflict.
Identity is part of Tex's journey when Tex finds out Pop isn't really his father and it relates to identity because Tex is questioning his identity in his family. When Tex doesn't join the basketball team it is an example of identity because he chooses to be himself and not be like Mason even though the coach really wants him to. Also, Tex tries to be more like Mason so his Dad will like him better. At the end, when Tex finds out that his father isn't really his father, he goes out and tries to find out who he really is. When Jamie says love won't solve anything it has a lot to do with identity because they are such different people with different backgrounds.
Friendship Friendship is shown by Tex and Johnny's friendship. They are friends again, they have decided to stick together. "There are people who go places and people who stay, and I think we stayers ought to stick together." (p82)
Romance Jamie and Tex have a romance. "I doubt it. I don't think things ever get worked out. I do love you though." (p. 204)
Resentment Mason resents his Dad because of how he treats Tex. "Then think about me! For God's sake, how do you think I feel, seeing you being nice to him, like you'd be nice to a goddamn stray puppy! While I'm the one who has to look out for him and what's going to happen to him when I'm not here?" (p. 177)
Conflict Tex and Johnny get in a fight.
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