It is hard to completely classify what it is like to be a man, or rather, to inhabit a male boy, but in his essay The Disposable Rocket John Updike gives it his best shot. A two time Pulitzer Prize winner and famous short story writer and novelist, Updike uses a masterful combination of anecdote and simile to cast a humorous tone and effectively cover many taboos. Written toward the end of his life, the essay acts as a sort of reflection on his own life as well as an arrangement of advice. Directed to young men the book offers insights on how many men live their lives and treat their bodies, establishing a strong ethos and casual tone through his frequent use of words like “I” and “we”.
Updike starts his essay by comparing the male body to a bank, stating its relatively low level of required maintenance in comparison to a female body. He then goes on to describe the tendency for men and boys to pursue danger and to be reckless. He recalls himself as a child and young adult by sharing a short narrative on his hobby of jumping off stairs. He next compares and contrasts the male and female bodies, delving into their physical makeup as well as the societal standards for the two. Updike reaches a taboo when it comes to describing the sexual aspect of the male body, but meets it well using humor and comparing the male genitalia to a little brother to whom you feel “both fond and impatient” (Updike 2). Updike then faces his own mortality, stating, “the thing serves well enough until sixty, which is my age now” (Updike 3). The essay is ended on comparison of being a man to being a teenager on a joyride with a friend, keeping the light and youthful tone the whole way through the essay.
This image shows the sensation of being along for the ride that Updike describes
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