Essay Questions

What is the main theme in ‘Beautiful Boy’ by David Sheff?

The main theme in ‘Beautiful Boy’ is addiction and its consequences in society. Nic is a drug addict, and he started using drugs at an early age. Nic’s father, Sheff, has exhausted all his savings to help him recover from the addiction. Besides straining his family, Nic has interfered with his prospects. Therefore, drug addiction is a menace in society because it kills the dreams and aspirations of young people.

Is lack of knowledge paradoxical, according to David Sheff?

Nic is depressed because of his drug addiction, and he believes that nobody understands his situation. The people around Nic misinterpret his addiction and conclude that it is his personal decision to follow the path. Paradoxically, lack of knowledge is the main cause why people are misjudging Nic. Drug addiction is not a path chosen by an individual but a circumstance that deprives one of making the right choices in life. Therefore drug addicts need to be shown love and support from the people around them to hasten their recovery from addiction.

How does the author use sight imagery in the book ‘Beautiful Boy?’

The author uses sight imagery to help readers understand the biased nature of human thinking and judgment. According to Nic, only girls wear tights that paint the female gender negatively. Consequently, human perception is biased, and judgment is not supposed to be based on an individual's physical appearance.