Marcus

Marcus does not like conforming to societal norms

Marcus is a twelve-year-old boy and the main character of the novel About a Boy by Nick Hornby. He is at an age where he is on the cusp of adolescence and thus transitioning from childhood to adulthood. This transition is a central part of his development in the novel. He is described as having a somewhat awkward and unassuming physical presence, often wearing clothes that don't quite fit him properly. His appearance reflects his lack of interest in conforming to societal norms.

Marcus is portrayed as an unconventional and unique boy. He does not fit in with his peers at school and is often seen as an outsider. His non-conformist attitude is partly due to his upbringing by his mother, Fiona, who has a non-traditional approach to parenting and prefers to stand out and be authentic rather than to fit in and do what everyone else is doing: “Marcus knew he was weird, and he knew that part of the reason he was weird was because his mum was weird” (Chapter 3, 33%). As a result, Marcus has unique tastes, wears unfashionable clothes, and is unfamiliar with popular culture. 

However, part of Marcus’s inability to fit in is also due to his own p...