He teaches the child-like Iron Giant humanity and the concept of an inner soul, essentially teaching the Giant right from wrong and that he has either the potential for evil destruction and chaos, or the potential for peace, friendship, rebuilding, and to help those in need. Hogarth shows a surprising amount of maturity and intellect, as he already has a deep understanding of people, likely coming from losing his father to war. She was doing her best for her son supporting him even though he constantly gets bullied for being moved up a grade.Īt nine years old, Hogarth had already moved up a grade and was bullied by the older kids at school as a result. Hogarth's mother had moved him up a grade because of his current grade at the time being too easy and simple for him and not challenging enough for him (said by his mother). Growing up alone with his equally sassy, intelligent, and independent widowed mother, Hogarth spends much of his time exploring the woods and trying to find 'pets' that he can be friends with, since he tends to be an outcast in school for his intelligence and being a grade higher than everyone else. Hogarth is also very smart for his age and has been pushed up a few grades higher by his mother for his strong intelligence. Growing up in 1957, in Rockwell, Maine, Hogarth is a fairly average kid he is talkative, curious, intelligent, funny, sarcastic, friendly, quirky, sassy, fun, and a good friend.

Hogarth himself learns some valuable lessons along this journey.

Hogarth becomes best friend and unlikely guardian to the 50-foot Giant as he teaches him about heroes and what it truly means to be human and what it truly means to be alive. He quickly befriends the Giant, teaches him to speak and tries to satisfy his insatiable appetite for metal while hiding him from his mother, the townspeople and the government. Website A curious nine year-old with an active imagination, Hogarth truly is the 'luckiest kid in America' after discovering the Iron Giant in his backyard.

The iron giant film ted hughes