Unintended Consequences

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Innumerable adolescent hearts have been shattered when the bliss of a first love ends. Though painful, the youth fortunate enough to have such an experience could have gleaned valuable lessons. Among others, romantic relationships have more potential to teach one about him- or herself, reciprocity, and empathy than those forged in the schoolyard. Although they may not be the motivation for courting, these sorts of teachings make adolescent first love an event worth reflecting upon as one moves into adulthood. Certainly there are fleeting relationships that have little long term value and some which remain a dream of the uncharismatic, but even the possibility or competition of finding romance promotes personal growth. The writers John Updike, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and E. E. Cummings have all shown that the desire to find a partner is an elemental factor of the maturing process and is inextricably linked with the search for identity, the youthful rebellious tendency, and the need to become .
Perhaps the first hard look into one’s self is motivated by finding romance. Fitzgerald’s “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” is a short story set in the 1920s which highlights the angst of the youth in vying for the attention of the opposite sex. The story revolves around Bernice, a socially hamstrung girl, visiting her cousin in the summer. Her cousin Marjorie, a social butterfly who can pick from any number of smitten boys, presents a stark contrast to Bernice’s reserved and upright affect. A conflict between the two highlights Bernice’s condition in which Marjorie, who actually is acutely aware of Bernice’s shortcomings, berates, “There's some excuse for an ugly girl whining . . . But you're starting life without any handicap” (Fitzgerald). Followi...

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... call, but in the end the beckoning whistler has become a capitol M “balloonMan” (21). This change not only signals the general coming of age, but also the responsibilities that come with seeking a romantic partner and perhaps procreation.
Maturation is fueled by long, short, and the dream of romantic relationships that the youth experience. Authors present how the various aspects of maturing are entrenched with tensions between the sexes because of its universal appeal. A Boyfriend or girlfriend can help one recognize their faults. However, attracting one might require a confidence stemming from a deep understanding of one’s self or a bold act of defiance. Immature young adults, through both failing and succeeding in courtship, eventually discover they have a stronger sense of who they are, how to live life more fully, and how to deal with the realities of life.

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