Noble Savage: A Re-reading of Childhood Innocence as a Disguise in Joyce Cary's Short Story "Growing Up"

<p>The main objective of the present study is to explore<br>the theme of childhood with particular reference to Joyce<br>Cary’s short story “Growing Up.” Children are most often<br>epitomized as symbols of innocence and purity. There is a<br>natural disposition in them to be masters of their own world<br>and other people, particularly the elders of the household,<br>happily accept them to be so. However, at times they engage<br>in such violent games within familial relations itself, where<br>they turn violent and brutish quite unbecoming of the<br>impressions we have of them. It is this inherent inclination<br>towards violence, the animal instincts, to conquer and<br>establish their niche that this paper attempts to unveil.</p>