How we cite our quotes: (Chapter, Paragraph)
Quote #1
Also true: going to the swamp to pick a few apples is not a job for a man cuz men are never allowed to be so idle. Now, I won't officially become a man for thirty more days. I've lived twelve years of thirteen long months each and another twelve months besides, all of which living means I'm still one month away from the big birthday. (1.10)
Right at the start, we know that coming of age is a big deal in Prentisstown. They've got the process down to the day it happens. Why? We're not sure at this point. But Todd's grumpy because he's sick of being a kid and getting stuck with boring jobs; he wants to be a man. He gives us that sense that men have more weight in society since they "aren't allowed to be so idle."
Quote #2
What I want this year is a hunting knife like the one Ben carries on the back of his belt. Now that's a present for a man. (1.65)
Todd wants a knife because men have knives and Todd wants to be a man. When he was given Manchee as a gift, he resented it, perhaps because puppies are for kids.
Quote #3
I will be a man soon and men do not run in fear but I give Manchee a little push and we walk even a little faster than before, giving the Mayor's House as wide a curve as possible till we're past it and on the gravel path that heads on towards our house. (2.55)
Moral of the story: Todd isn't quite a man. He makes a point of saying that he won't run—he's just going to walk really fast. Being a man comes along with a set of ideals that Todd seems really hungry for, but he doesn't seem like man material at the moment.
Quote #4
Mr. Prentiss Jr. looks at him, then looks at us, still holding his bloody mouth. Like I say, he ain't barely two years older than me, barely able to even get a sentence out without his voice breaking, but he's had his birthday to be a man so there he is, our sheriff. (4.72)
We really see here that becoming a man is an outside thing—something that happens in the eyes of society—rather than an actual process of maturity. In reality, Prentiss Jr. is basically the same age as Todd, but since his birthday has come, he gets to be in charge while Todd is still treated like a kid.
Quote #5
"The law is for men," Hildy says, her voice staying calm like we were standing there talking bout the weather. Can't she see how red this man's Noise is getting? Red ain't yer color if you wanna have a chat. "This here pup ain't a man yet." (17.11)
For all of Todd's wanting to be a man, not being of age has its perks. Matthew Lyle is furious at Todd because he's from Prentisstown, but since he's not a man of Prentisstown, the rules don't apply to him; he's not yet a part of whatever the rest of the town is a part of.
Quote #6
"That's how New World's always done it. It's sposed to be scriptural. Aaron always went on about it symbolizing the day you eat from the Tree of Knowledge and go from innocence into sin." (21.69)
Hold on, young Todd—he's so blinded by wanting to be a man like everyone else that he doesn't catch the dark stuff that he's been told about it. This coming-of-age business is described as going from "innocence to sin," though, which sounds a bit ominous. It's kind of surprising that he hasn't picked up on this.
Quote #7
"How can you keep saying that?" she asks, her voice finally snappy. "How can you keep saying that he's a man and you're not? Just because of some stupid birthday? If you were where I came from you'd already be fourteen and a month!" (24.67)
Thank you, Viola. Someone here has some common sense. She's sick of Todd counting down the days and whining about himself not being a man yet; she sees that coming of age is something more important than a day in the year. If Todd lived in her world, where the year is twelve months instead of thirteen, he'd already be of age.
Quote #8
Whatever they want, whatever the weakness is in me that I can't kill a man even when he deserves it, it's got to change for me to be a man. It's got to or how can I hold my head up? (24.89)
This is the first sign that Todd realizes that becoming a man involves more than his birthday—something needs to change inside of him. He needs to find strength and courage to act. He's got an inkling that becoming a man involves killing something, but luckily Todd has the good character to recognize this definition as bad.
Quote #9
"Sixteen," he says. "Sixteen days till yer birthday." He takes my chin and lifts it. "But you've been a man for a good while now. Don't let no one tell you otherwise." (36.183)
Ben empowers Todd to realize that coming of age is something that you do on your own time, when you're ready. Todd has learned a lot on his journey and has earned the title of a man, without Prentisstown telling him what that means. This puts Todd in charge of himself, which is the final step to him becoming an adult.
Quote #10
My Noise rises red and purple.
I'm Todd effing Hewitt.
That's who I effing well am.I look him right in the eye, sending my Noise straight for him, and I spit out in a rasp, "I'll thank you to call me Mr. Hewitt." (42.110-113)
Todd is now a man. He addresses Prentiss Jr. (who we know is only days older than he is), as a fellow man, rather than bending to society's rules about who is a man and who's not. This is the moment where Todd is no longer afraid, and faces his enemies as a peer.