Sag Harbor: The Least Depressing Coming of Age Novel

Sag Harbor is definitely unique compared to the other novels we read for this class. Where The Bell Jar and Fun Home center their narratives around the deepest and darkest aspects of the protagonists coming of age, Sag Harbor emphasizes a more holistic view of Benji’s time over the summer. That is not to say that the intermittent tales and references to Benji’s abusive fathers and familial unrest are not distressing and vital to the tale; it is instead a compliment to Colson Whitehead for making such a genuine coming of age tale. Sag Harbor reads as an immersive and somewhat all inclusive story much in the way that modern coming of age films feel (think The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Lady Bird, etc.). These films also explore deep personal familial issues but have a lighter air about them. In Sag Harbor we see many scenes of Benji and his friends talking shit, hanging out, and working at their, not so great or professional, summer jobs.

The youthful imagery and slightly more pleasant atmosphere of Sag Harbor is ultimately what makes it so effective. The reader can really feel for Benji because we see him as so much more than his struggles: we really get to see him as a kid.

I think the relatively more light hearted nature of Sag Harbor is what makes the novel so effective. Take for example the hair-patting incident and Benji’s eventual “revenge”. Neither of these actions are violent or deeply malicious, yet we see the underlying themes of racism and social divides. While there is most definitely a place for the more outward depictions of conflict in literature, I find it refreshing to see a more subtle critique of important social disparities.

The same can be said about the BB gun fight. At the end of the chapter “Gangsters” when Ben mentions his friends from Sag Harbor and their fates in reference to gun violence, a seemingly mild event resonates far deeper.