You dont get Stebbins. You don't get Stebbins. No, no, noooo
Stebbins has what is known as schizotypal personality disorder (STPD). Throughout the books he is shown to have extreme magical thinking, delusions, occasional grandeur, aloofness, and lack of social awareness.
To further this, the only connection truly made on the walk, for Stebbins, is with Garraty. Garraty becomes infatuated with Stebbins. Who is this purple pants lunatic? Why is he speaking in riddles? Why is he the one driving me forwards?
Often times those suffering delusions will ignore all arguments opposing and challenging their nonsensical beliefs, instead looking to those who accept what they are thinking. Which Garraty does. He feeds into Stebbins' magical thinking. Feeds into the fact that he believes he is the chosen one. Because Garraty believes it too.
And if you've never experienced an intense delusion before, then know that fueling these will only all the flame to grow. Never shrink. And unintentionally the podium Ray put Stebbins on out of curiosity and fascination for the strange boy allowed for his mind to continue playing with him.
Eventually, during a other conversation with Garraty, Stebbins reveals that, supposedly, ghe major is his father. Now, I'm aware this fact was true in the film. The book has not fully convinced me.
The entirety of the book is an anti war allegory. Showcasing how children, young soldiers alike, are all driven to fight for different reasons. Claims of fame and glory. To do what is right. Freedom. Etc. J don't think this allegory ends with the walk itself.
Stebbins is a prime example of the propaganda used on soldiers. YOU are the special one. YOU are the important one. All YOU need to do is fight for US.
So with his already unstable mind, Stebbins falls further into this hole of being the chosen one. This is a common delusion, and was/is common for those fighting to believe. They have been chosen for war because they will be the ones to end it. They were chosen for a reason.
Leading Stebbins to believe he was chosen, not just to be the driving force pushing the walk forwards–but to be the majors driving force, pushing the walk forwards. To be the majors son.
If you haven't figured out what I'm insinuating. Stebbins is NOT the son of the major. He is ehing used as an allegory for how young people were persuaded to fight in the wars, in hopes of becoming, or the belief that they are something special.
Whether intended or not, this makes the most logical sense given Stebbins' history of wild claims, unique fashion choices (in of themselves being a symptom for STPD), lack of social awareness, and aloofness. With all the clear signs of a schizotypal personality disorder being present, and the boy undergoing psychosis and delusions, we have no reason to trust his word on the 'fact'he is the majors son.
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