What is the main part of That Was Then, This is Now?What are the three main parts of That Was Then, This is Now?

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Jen Sambdman eNotes educator| Certified Educator

I will assume you are wanting clarification on the three main conflicts. I have my student examine the conflict of Bryon realizing that the world is more than chicks, booze and fighting. He grows up a lot during the story. A big turning point for him is when he is jumped by the Shepherds for Mark cutting Angela's hair and doesn't want Mark to retaliate. He also is understanding romantic relationships in a more mature way by realizing he loves Cathy in the middle of the book and is shocked by how hard it is to vocalize it when he never really had a problem telling girls he didn't care about that he loved them before.

The second is the conflict of Bryon realizing that although he loves Mark, he needs to do right by M&M and report Mark to the authorities. He has grown up and realizes until Mark answers for his actions and takes responsibility, no one is doing him any favors and he will just keep on going down the path he had been.

The third type of conflict I address with my kids is the fact that when kids are young, they tend to bind together and hold on. It isn't until you start asserting yourself as an individual that you truly begin to become an adult. Bryon said “It was great, we were a bunch of people makin’ up one big person, like we totaled up to somethin’ when we were together,” and that “it’s kinda sad, really, when you get to where you don’t need a gang.” Bryon was finally maturing to the point of asserting his own individualism and taking responsibility for his own actions and separating himself from those who bring him down.