Free at last – notes
In this extract from the novel by Alan Sillitoe, we read the story of a teenager (who is an inmate / who is incarcerated / who is serving a sentence) at a Borstal, a youth detention center or a prison school for young delinquent people.
The narrator, a young offender who must still be under age (18) / who is not of age yet, talks about his passion for long-distance running and what motivates him to do so.
We understand he committed an offense when he was part of a gang of bad boys. He broke into a shop. We guess he grew up in a run-down neighbourhood, a dingy/shabby environment probably. And he may have mixed with the wrong kind of people.
He describes / depicts what it is like when he runs in the cold very early in the morning. He says that he doesn’t let anything put him off from the idea of running.
When he runs, he has the feeling that he gets the control of his life again. He doesn’t have to obey the leaders of his gang or to struggle with the jail rules.And he wants to become very good at running.
Running helps him cope with his problems, it is a kind of escape from the harsh reality of his miserable life/predicament. By running, he develops a competitive spirit that can help him have ambition in life rather than committing petty thefts.
It’s also a getaway from loneliness. He feels free. Running sets his mind free. He doesn’t feel imprisoned anymore. Running provides him with a certain amount of freedom.
Besides/Plus/On top of that/ furthermore/moreover/In addition to this… running enables him to reflect on his life / think over his situation.