Stop-Time’ by Frank Conroy: An Overview

In postmark Conroys memoir, Stop-Time, he encounters some(prenominal) situations throughout his puerility that allow him to maturate and gain knowledge of the world he lives in. As Frank grows older, he under suffers fear, hatred, and unfairness. He first encounters putrescence when a guard ships officer approaches him and blue jean on the streets of New York and accepts a demoralise from Jean. As Frank watches the patrol officer casually leave after(prenominal) taking the bribe, he senses disenchantment towards the police officer. By passively observing the officer, rather than aggressively interfering in the situation, Frank matures.Franks encounter with the police officer allows him to comprehend that anyone, regardless their level of authority, is capable of setting their ethical motive aside and cheating. Frank and Jean meet with an Italian who shows them how to bribe the snitch in order to ward off a citation. In this scene the phrase son of a bitch is used ambig uously, since it is hard to discern who might of said this (133). By not specifying who said the phrase son of a bitch, it leads to the assumption that that each Frank or the Italian or both, are expressing their anger towards the police officer.Frank and the Italian feel resignation towards the police officer. The police officer abuses his role of authority he possesses the power to control soldieryy of the fruit vendors by forcing them to pay a small fine. The police officer is playing a peppy with all the fruit vendors in which only he is victorious. The ambiguity of this phrase can also stand as a representation of all the fruit vendors, they all feel that they have lost to the quail ats game and end up giving him what he wants. As the police officer approaches Jean and Franks fruit stand, Jean orders Frank not to watch the turn back.However Franks curiosity takes over and he ignores Jean and waits to see whether or not the shit accepts the bribe. Frank describes the sh its runions and attitude as calm. The police officer was slapping the baton neatly into his palm every few seconds equivalent the piston of an engine. Frank compares the cops actions to a piston of an engine to signify his calm and crying actions of corruption. A piston of an engine repeatedly goes up and down with no early(a) movement and continues until the engine is shut off. Franks comparison of the cop to a piston signifies that the cop routinely breaks the rectitude.The cops breaking law routine ends when he no longer wears the uniform and is off duty. This shows that the cop is like any other person once his shift is over he looses all power of authority, just like a piston looses its power when the engine is stalled. The police officers act of corruption consumes Franks attention. Franks passive observance and curiosity allows him to describe the police officer with great detail. When the officer came within touching distance, Frank becomes shocked as the police office r reaches over to take the money.Franks focus allows him to describe the cops, big arm, covered with thick, curly, ginger-colored hair, in great detail. The great detail he describes is due to Franks astonishment that a police officer, who is supposed to uphold the law, would break the law. Franks passive observance allows him to become much mature Frank had many opportunities to speak up and take action to stop the cop from taking the bribe, nevertheless he remained silent and still. Before the police officer took the bribe, Frank respected the police officer, but after he took it, he was nobody.After Frank witness the police officer take the bribe and laissez passer away, he transforms the way he thinks of authority and regards those who break the law as nobodies. Frank strips away the patrol officers power by saying, approaching, hed been a policeman, and now, retreating, he was just a man dressed in blue. (133). As Frank is experiencing this, he begins to understand that p olice officers who gain authority by medical dressing a certain way with a badge, does not necessarily mean that they will enforce the law and do the right things.Frank takes the power away from the cop by describing him as a man just dressed in blue, with no special significance, as if he were just any other person rather than an authoritative policeman. Frank couldnt have been more astonished if the police officer disappeared in thin air. (133) Air is a representation of nothing. Franks reference of the cop to air signifies that the cop has no authority the cop is just like any ordinary person. When you think of a police officer, you imagine peace and order.When Frank encounters a police officer, he gets exposed to corruption. Being exposed to corruption helps Frank realize that the world he lives in is not perfect. Conroy learns that individuals should respect authority and not resist when an authoritative figure performs an act of corruption. However you should question corru ption rather than be oppressed by it. Frank matured by not interfering with the police officer, but he could of gain more knowledge by revolting the cops action and standing up for what he thinks is right.