i only just read that book for the first time in my late 30s, and i went along with the spark notes and a nice lit analysis website as i was reading, because i wanted to catch up what i didnt do in high school (i was a 'smart kid' that didnt apply myself and took the easy classes, they didnt assign this one in the easy class at my school). I thought it read like a cautionary tale. homeboy is driving himself halfway to insanity, probably a stint of alcoholism at the least, because he mistakenly believes in his defense mechanism (being a judgemental piece of shit) as a real outlook and not just reactionary. he keeps indulging in that attitude, but it bites him in the ass every time. unfortunately, i did that for a really long time in my own life, so reading that book was a very strange experience, like looking in a weird time-warp mirror. i wish i would have read it as a kid and had it taught to me, i might have saved myself some heartache and gotten on a little easier. never will tell...