Love is essential to overcoming adversity and it is the ability to cause change in yourself and others. In the book, Matched by Ally Condie, Cassia has to learn to be able to have independence and accept that she needs to break away from her society’s choices. This helps give her the confidence she needs to be with the person that she loves because she has begun to realize that she deserves to choose and that everyone else does too. Ultimately, Condie teaches us that love causes and solves problems, but those problems are the ones that you want to choose.
The appeal of adulthood and independence reaches its apex in fervent children. However, Maria Mazziotti Gillan, poet of My Daughter at 14, Christmas Dance, 1981, conveys the paternal perspective of viewing one’s own kin experiencing the “real” world through her daughter’s first relationship. The Family of Little Feet, written by Sarah Cisneros, illuminates the negativities of young girl’s eagerness to physically develop in hope of acquiring attention from possible suitors. While both pieces of literature possess varying perspectives of epiphanies, Gillan and Cisneros divulge the significance of cherishing one’s youth, as the realities of maturity divest children of their innocence.
She fools herself into thinking she is an adult because she assumes the appearance of one when she is not home: “She wore a pullover jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home” (396). Through her dressing and going out with several boys, she strives to present herself as a sexually attractive mature woman. Only realizing the sexual aspect of maturity, Connie is not prepared for the responsibilities associated with independence. She is careless as an adolescent, as she spends a different night with a different boy: “All the boys… dissolved into a single face that was not even a face, but an idea, a feeling” (397). The word “dissolve” provides an image of a distant blur of a teenager’s insignificant relationships and not concrete and meaningful relationships that an adult would engage in.
In most “coming-of-age” stories, the main character undergoes a vast amount of change. The main character’s values and attitude completely depend on this change. All or most of these changes rely on influence from other characters or main events in the story. In the book by Mark Frost, The Paladin Prophecy, a teenage boy named Will surprisingly scores off the charts on a National Test. His score announces that his whole world is about to change, leaving his world behind.
Through Jethro’s experiences, the novel conveys that suffering and loss of innocence is needed to create maturity within an individual. As the youngest
In Joyce Carol Oates short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been , the deception of appearances plays a colossal role in the development of the story. Characters are not what they seem and are portrayed differently than the person they truly are. When the main character tries to make herself become something she is not, she leaves herself open to a person doing the exact same thing. The story focuses on the protagonist, fifteen year old Connie, who believes that she is too far from adulthood and finds herself longing to be older.
In high school, the pressure to fit in with the crowd often overshadows the need for individuality; however, the protagonist in “Initiation” discovers that staying true to herself is what would make her happier when given the option to join a high school sorority, and this is seen as the theme of the story. As Millicent goes through the initiation process, she learns about the strength of herself by completing the tasks, her ability to connect with different people and her need for originality. For instance, her sister Beverly ordered her around and was generally rude to her, yet Millicent continued to follow her commands although, “rebellion flooded through her.” Furthermore, the task assigned to her of going around a bus and asking strangers
When we are growing up we tend to look for people to be our role models people who represent how we want to be and behave while we grow up, we look for people to lead us through our journey of aging. Denise Chavez presents the views of growing up through the story of Shooting Stars through the eyes of the character named Rocio. The story takes place in New Mexico and Texas where Rocio spends much of her summers with her mother’s family. Rocio is growing up, beginning to age, as she grows older she is looking for someone to help her know more about womanhood. Throughout the story she comes across a few young women who she really admires and wants to be like but is later disappointed by their final outcome and the choices they make throughout
An epiphany can radically change our views on a complex idea, a person that is considered close, or about our own self. A coming of age journey is an experience that allows us to discover the moral growth of an individual as they face a difficult internal dilemma or a situation with another human being. In Hetty Dorval written by Ethel Wilson, a young girl by the name of Frankie Burnaby is faced with multiple crossroads in her life that mould her into an independent women. Frankie's integrity and moral fortitude against wrong prevails as she goes through her coming of age story. Frankie grows up in a small close-nit community in British Columbia’s interior, she learns to appreciate the small everyday tasks and not to get caught up with the
When Ponyboy was talking with Cherry, he realized, “ Maybe we weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset” (Hinton 41). Although they believe Ponyboy took the time to get to know Cherry, it is understood that though he got to know her, the two groups have been programmed to realize they are different and that not all of society will change. While there can be other ideas regarding Cherry’s outward identity, it appears it may determine how society judges
Adolescence is the complicated stage where you’re going through different circumstances of figuring out who you really are. Chapter 3 “Ask Me If I Care” from Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad depicts the life of a girl as she tries to decide between becoming an adult or enjoying being a teenager. It presents her experiences and choices from her relationships with her friends to her interaction with an older man which influences how she sees herself and her surroundings in this point in her life. In Egan’s Chapter 3, Rhea’s struggle with discovering her true self during adolescence are represented by her interactions with Alice who symbolizes youthfulness, with Lou who symbolizes adulthood and her admiration for Bennie that symbolizes
Change is one of the only elements in life that will forever remain constant and gradual, yet utterly spontaneous. A time in one’s life that change is prominent is during childhood: ideas are flourishing, creativity is at its peak, and there is often a feeling of invincibility. Unfortunately, as one begins to grow up, there comes a day when all of this will change. For some, that day comes too soon. The graphic novel Persepolis follows one young girl 's journey through this dramatic change in character and mentality.
These changes include physical, cognitive and emotional changes. These changes complement Tim Winton’s fantastically crafted novel. Lockie experienced what it was like to be a teenager as he turned 13 and also experienced puberty. His thoughts and opinions change as he experiences more and learns more about life. Lockie’s emotional changes witness Lockie journey from extremely
In the coming of age story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism, conflict, and the third person to foreshadow fifteen-year-old Connie’s unfortunate, yet untimely fate. While one may think that the conflict stems from Connie’s promiscuity, it is clear to see her promiscuity is only a result to a much bigger conflict, her mother’s constant nagging and disapproval, alongside the lack of attention from her father. the author paints a vivid picture of what happens when a fifteen-year-old girl such as Connie goes elsewhere to find to find the love, attention, and approval that she lacks at home. All which is vital for her growth and wellbeing as a person.
In Judith Ortiz Cofer’s “The Changeling”, the hardships of gender stereotypes are exposed. The contrast between a young girl’s imagination and the reality of her gender role is clear by her attempt to appease her parents. She is neither manly enough to gain the attention of her father nor womanly enough to attain the respect of her mother. Her dilemma of not being able to fit in is emphasized by Cofer’s use of imagery and repetition.
