Mechanic As Metaphor

First off, I'm in love with this book. As I've said in class, I love the characters, I love that they're all assholes, I love how everything is philosophically analyzed, I love how when there is no analysis it's just an example of the character's flaws, I love how I get a clearer image of the characters on every page without even realizing they're being characterized, and I love how pretentious they are and how aware of it they are. It's deep and philosophical and entertaining, and I had no idea that British people were so fucking weird. "Young feller-me-lad"? That's not fucking English.
Regardless, so far the thing I enjoy the most about the book so far is something that I almost missed; it finally hit me on page 39 when he got philosophical about the river going backwards. Maybe it's just me but do you guys realize how rare that sort of philosophical analysis became within twenty pages? Towards the beginning of the story this group of kids is consistently told that they will grow out of their philosophical questioning- their existential reasoning- their resistance to conformity- their pretentiousness. Well by page 39, it's pretty clear that, despite his unwillingness to admit it, Anthony has been questioning less and less- he's been more and more willing to conform (which we can see in his relationship with Veronica). The idea that was repeatedly reiterated during the boyhood section of the story, the idea that was consistent doubted and questioned by the characters presented to us, slowly proves to be true as the story goes on. As much as they tried to deny it, their conformity was inevitable, the only one seems to not have changed is Finn and I'm pretty sure he's the Messiah anyway. The philosophical principle of futility and, to some extent, nihilism is shown to us as it is experienced by the characters. As much as they want to be these great philosophers- these fiction protagonists- they eventually give up on it as they lose what they hold as "innocence". I love this book for many reasons, but for the biggest reason, refer to title.