Maturity Quotes In Arcadia

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Society today thrives from the knowledge a person can bring into the community in order to flourish and benefit it as a whole. This concept has always been true, even during the early 19th century which we see in Tom Stoppard’s play, Arcadia. Although knowledge plays an important role, especially in adolescents, does this mean they are mature because they are so knowledgeable? A student that holds so much knowledge of a wide variety of subjects is not always mature enough to handle real life situations such as discussions or acts of sexual relations. In Arcadia, the reader learns a great deal about a young girl by the name Thomasina, and her incredible educational insight. Throughout the play, she is constantly being tutored by a man named …show more content…

/ Well, for one thing, she’d be famous.” (2.7.p.76)
Although Thomasina is incredibly intelligent, this knowledge does not hinder her level of maturity. This shows us that Thomasina’s age in relation to her maturity and knowledge do not have a direct correlation. Maturity usually develops with age and experience, whereas knowledge can be innate or can be built with hard work and dedication. The reader sees her immaturity on page 77, directly in relation to the naked body and sexual preferences.
Augustus: “I am a master of it at Eton, Mr. Hodge, but we only draw naked women.”
Thomasina: “Disgusting!” (2.7.p.77)
Throughout the play, Thomasina makes many immature statements to any conversation associated with sex, but why it is that her great intelligence does not match her level of maturity? There may be many factors that play into the role as to why Thomasina’s maturity does not correlate with her level of intelligence, but what the reader can comprehend and recognize is that these two qualities do not balance each other or work directly with each other. Thomasina’s contradictory nature proves that knowledge plays a larger role in society than maturity, because Thomasina is successful throughout the

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