I assume that you are referring to the final pages of the
novel (since my copy ends at page 154).
I'm not sure that
there is a specific symbol in the last pages that represents Bryon's growing up other
than his visit to the jail. Mark is twice symbolized as a wild animal--first, he is
described as a "caged lion," impatiently pacing about the waiting room; the author later
refers to him as having "the eyes of a jungle animal." Mark has turned vicious during
his time in the reformatory, and Bryon is fearful of the change. More than anything
else, Bryon sees these drastic changes in his old friend as a sign that their friendship
is over as well as their youth. Both Mark and Bryon recognize that they are no longer
boys: Mark will be sent to an adult prison for his bad behavior, and Bryon will continue
to wonder how he could have changed things for the better. It completes the coming of
age story and how Bryon has finally transformed into a young man--capable of change and
knowing right from wrong--while yearning to be young again when things seemed much
easier. Meanwhile, Mark will simply grow old in a prison cell.
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