Leper's enlistment supports which thematic idea?

• A. It emphasizes that war is distant and purely political.
• B. It shows war can grant purpose to youths who seek it.
• C. It marks the seductive pull of war entering adolescence and triggers a crisis of identity.
• D. It has no effect on Gene's development.

Answer: (C)

War intruding into adolescence and shaping identity is what this moment illustrates. Leper’s decision to enlist isn’t just about a distant political conflict; it highlights how the glamor and perceived meaning of war can pull young people toward something that promises purpose and belonging during a formative stretch of life. In this setting, the lure of adventure and the chance to prove oneself tempt Leper and, by extension, awaken questions about who he is and who he wants to be. That impulse triggers a crisis of identity: the reality of war confronts his self-image and destabilizes his sense of self, mirroring how adolescence is a fragile time when easy answers can be appealing but ultimately hollow. This also deepens Gene’s own development, as the war’s presence exposes insecurities he’s been suppressing. So the moment is best understood as showing the seductive pull of war entering adolescence and triggering a crisis of identity—not just a distant political backdrop, nor a simple assertion that war gives youths purpose, nor a signal that Gene remains unmoved.