The words “coming of age” can be used to describe a situation or event when one is free to do what is given after that stage in life. For an example, once someone turns eighteen they can move out. This is because not all, but most people mature by this age, and those people are responsible and able to live out on their own. But how does one know when they have become of age? When a person reaches these points in life, they, most likely, are also leaving small bits of their youth behind them so they can gain maturity. To break it down, the process of coming of age starts with an individual with a young mind and these individuals work up to a point when they make mature choices. After these choices, the individual gains more maturity and respect. …show more content…
This step is the most important one because it is the choice they make that decides whether they become of age and mature. One can choose the mature choice, or the slightly less mature choice, and if possible the immature choice. Becoming of age is gifted when one chooses the mature choice. Paul had a friend named Becky who has just moved in his neighborhood, and started to get to know. Later on, he found out she was moving again and they were both upset, so Paul’s mature decision was to edit a film and give it to her as a going away present. But this was not an ordinary, random film he has just put together. This film was special because it was a film he made starring Becky and he and stated, “i’ll never forget you,” (Paul and Drive, Our Time) towards her in the beginning of the film. The Conversation of Birds, Sally, made a mature decision to attend a memorial service for students who were being killed off in Kwang Joo from protesting against martial rules. “Students were being killed for something as simple as a fair vote,” (Yoon 42) which some people were not happy about. She was one of the only youth who attended which made the choice more mature. Both Paul and Sally’s choices were mature because they showed they cared enough to do something about …show more content…
Paul experienced a coming of age moment at the age of twelve years old by giving a really special and thoughtful going away present to his special friend Becky. Sally experienced a coming of age moment at the age of what seemed like her teen years, and she did it by making a mature choice of attending a memorial service. When reaching certain or uncertain points in life one will leave small parts of their youth behind and become more mature as they grow and by doing this they experience coming of age. All will have a youthful mind or young attitude before the process of coming of age. During the process of coming of age, one performs a mature action. After the process of coming of age, one becomes more respectful to themselves and others. To recap, coming of age is when one matures when getting older by leaving pieces of their youth behind, making a mature choice, and by doing this they gain and give
When something serious happens that would normally not happen until adulthood, it forces a child to “grow up” such as going through a loss or another difficult time. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, numerous situations occur which cause Scout and Jem to mature and “come of age”. Throughout the book, Scout and Jem face several complicated situations, for example, there are many cases in which people verbally attack Scout and her family. Scout has to learn to control her anger and to not get in fights with those who provoke her. In the novel, Scout and Jem encounter numerous circumstances which cause them to mature and “grow” such as reading for their neighbor, the trial for which their father is a lawyer, and having to defend
Maturity is a coming of age when a person is growing emotionally and mentally. Maturity is gained by experiences and decision-making, thus learning from mistakes. This is evident in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Through characterization and symbolism Lee displays maturity.
According to the Quest Pattern, Lily, the antagonist in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, comes of age quite elegantly. She has to face some harsh situations that set her journey in motion, acquire knowledge about her past and present, and find a reward during this journey. While Lily’s quest isn’t easy, she finds that “…nobody is perfect. [And] How you just have to close your eyes and breathe out and let the puzzle of the human heart be what it is.” (Kidd 285). To prove that she is coming of age, she follows the pattern, and manages to with a strong will, and a maturity that is generally unknown to others her age.
Coming to age is not something that usually happens in one exact moment, it is a gradual experience. A person coming of age is very vital to how they develop their personal characteristics. The story of how I came to age isn’t a story I tell very often. Personally, I believe that what happens in the past should stay in the past.
Coming-of-age involves recognizing different perspectives. The new perspectives allow people to think differently about a situation or a person. Gaining new perspective can help people realize the different kinds of life and allow people
Your age doesn't determine how or if you are coming of age, Your mindset and mentality to move forward determines that. The Novella “The Body” by Stephen King is about a group of boys who all come from abusive, dysfunctional families and this book is their journey to discover a dead body. They are young and their immaturity makes them excited to see a dead body, but along the way, they begin to realize various things and begin to grow. In this book, the four boys Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy come of age. In this essay, there will be brief descriptions about three of the four of the boys from this novella. Chris came from a bad family and was thought to come out the exact same way as his family and was doubted his whole life. Teddy came from
Sam comes of age at the very end of the story. Sam says, “ perhaps I could have said something kind about my mother, but I was only thirteen and I didnt know that love can be as obdurate as the changes you long for. (pg#99) Basically, Sam came of age because he realize that his mother has been going through a lot of pain and she just needs the love from her son but he took to long to see reality. this is a significant change because Sam earlier in the story did not want to be with his mother and didn't want to talk to her about nothing. all he wanted to do is spend time with his father. In the end, the unhappiness in his mother eyes made him notice the love he has for her. This story illustrates the importance of have a relationship between
When has someone achieved maturity? They achieve it when they have fully developed their mind and are able to fend for themselves successfully. In The Glass Castle , Jeannette Walls illustrates her childhood with a mother who acted more like her children then a responsible adult. Rose Mary did not nurture her children in a typical way, but ultimately the children must fend for themselves. Fending for herself and her siblings affects Jeannette’s adult feelings regarding her mother because of how it taught her to not be dependent on others.
The first examples of coming of age seen are shown through metaphors. Metaphors are a literary device used in this context to help the reader further understand these specific situations. In the poem “Flower Patterned Snake” (Korea) by , there’s a beautiful snake disguised as something it is not. This can represent how one can believe in someone as something beautiful, or a symbol of trust, but later there is something ugly, such as betrayal, revealed to the narrator. The poem shows how some lessons are painful to learn, but necessary for one’s personal growth as a person. Metaphors are not the only literary device used
“Maturity comes from experience, not age” said Ziad K. Abdelnour. It does not matter what age you are. However, the experiences you go through do affect how you mature. See how two children mature in the 1930’s. Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, is about two children with their experiences of coming to age in the 1930’s and their changing perceptions of the world. Harper Lee demonstrates the theme of growth and maturity in To Kill A Mockingbird through the two main characters as they progress to a realization of how cruel the world actually is and their loss of innocence.
Coming of Age is when a character in a story goes through a life-changing event they learn a life lesson from. There are many types of books and short stories that are based on Coming of Age, "The Flowers" by Alice Walker is one of them. In the story the main character, Myop, is wandering through the woods. However, she later decides to shorten her walk, after she starts to feel uncomfortable and fearful, of her surroundings. Soon she decides later to find her way back home until she stumbles across something... a dead body. At first Myop was astonished of what she had uncovered . It was something she had never encountered before. After examining the body she began to realize that it was actually something very interesting. Seeing the lifeless
showing that this man has come of age as a true adult, possibly due to
Everyone that have ever lived to adulthood, understand that difficulty of the transition to it from childhood. As of right now, I am in the prime of the “coming of age “transition. The overwhelming pressure of our society that forces the adolescence to assimilate the social norms is felt by many. Just as in our first steps, our first words or anything that is expected in our human milestones, coming of age is one of them. It may variety from different societies, religious responsibility or modern legal convention; everyone had to reach this point eventually.
For me to “come of age” means to grow up, to become wiser, and to become more responsible. Responsibility, privileges, and consequences are all a part of coming of age. When you get the privileges you need to be responsible with them and if you're not you will get consequences for that. When we “come of age” when we are in high school, for example driving it can teach us what we need to know when leave home along with any other things we learn or any mistakes we make. Even though it’s something that can’t be avoided I don’t think anyone is ready to grow up,who wants to grow up and have to figure out what it’s like to live in the real
For me, driving a car, going to Europe, graduating, and having a job have all contributed to my maturity. I have to make life and death choices every day while driving, and my choices affect other’s lives- and that bring a lot of maturity. I went to Europe basically by myself, with no parent there to hold my hand. I had to make good choices, be safe and be mature while I was half way across the world from my parents. I am graduating this year as well. After this summer I am going to college, being a real “adult” and I will be able to make my own choices. Maturity will help me keep my head on straight while I am being my own boss. For the past two years I have held the same job. This job has taught me responsibility, how to deal with money and people and basic life skills. If I were not mature I would not be able to hold a job for that long.