Examples Of Coming Of Age In The Rule Of Three

Some books consist of fairy tales, romances, and horror. Other books include tragedy, trauma, and coming of age. The universal challenges of adolescence are captured in the novel "The Rule of Three." by Eric Walters. The elements of how the novel demonstrates the adolescent experience are epiphany, and the realization of the fortunate and unfortunate components of the main character, Adam Daley’s world. Other elements that prove the adolescent experience are the loss of innocence from traumatic experiences, and moments of conflict from comparing societal thoughts to personal ones. This is how the novel demonstrates coming of age and the adolescent experience.
One reason why the novel represents coming of age is the act of epiphany and revelation.

One example is when Adam is looking at his younger siblings in the kitchen. "For a second I wished I could be like them, not really understanding the big picture." (Walters 251). This quote shows how Adam knows the bigger picture of things, but Adam is saying he wishes he didn't have to. This represents the loss of not having to worry, similar to when he was younger and innocent like his siblings. Another example is when Adam and Brett are breaking into abandoned cars, looking for equipment for survival while thinking about his maturity compared to other kids. "Actually, I'd always felt older than everybody who was my age and quite a few grown ups. Throughout this whole situation I’d been entrusted with information that made me feel older, weighed me down.” (Walters 265). This example shows the loss of innocence of how he doesn’t feel the same sense of innocence and immaturity that most teenagers experience at his age. It also explains how the situation has made him feel older and taken away his innocence. That is why this novel is a coming-of-age story and how it represents it through loss of

One example of internal conflict is when Adam is interrogating the military man from the attack at Olde Burnham and Herb tells Adam to leave the interrogation. “You’ve done enough. More than enough. I want you to go and find that girlfriend of yours and spend more time relaxing, being a kid again. At least for one evening.” (Walters 369). This quote ties in with the loss of innocence but also demonstrates the conflict Adam has with this whole tragedy he’s been dealing with himself. An example of external conflict is when the guards shot three innocent citizens, so everyone is trying to investigate. “‘Those people in the truck were probably nothing more than innocents driving by.’ ‘Oh my lord,’ my mother said. ‘That can’t be!’ Howie gasped. ‘Are you saying we just shot three people for no reason?’ ‘That’s half of what I’m saying,’ Herb answered.” (Walters 285). This conflicted moment puts a lot of fear and confusion in Adam because he had witnessed everything. You can tell that Adam has been thinking about that night when he mentions wondering about how the newspaper moms will write about the shooting.“ I couldn’t help but think about what wasn’t going to be printed about the attack the other night […] Information could be controlled and given out to move people in the direction they needed to be moved. On some levels I knew what needed to be done,