Trying to Break the Chains

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"Teenagers," the word seems to send chills down the spines of any adult in America. "Spoiled Brat! Crazy Hoodlums! Sex Fiends! Damn Punks!". We have come to adopt these names as teenagers. The adult world may view us as obnoxious, irresponsible, or even hopeless. Even though, at one point, other adults saw them in a similar way. Teens are young adults conflicted about leaving behind their childhood. On one hand, teenagers would like to more free and have more power. On the other hand, however, teenagers fear the responsibilities of adult life. As teenagers, we are chained to the ground of childhood, while we can only see the sun of adulthood. The legendary Holden Caulfield could not bring himself to break away from childhood, and found himself in all sorts of trouble. The impending poet Sylvia Plath noted in a diary entry that she felt "afraid of getting older" (Plath). Nevertheless she seeks the power and freedom of adulthood, as she wants "to be God" (Plath). However, many teens also feel excitement for the privileges and freedoms of adulthood, such as driving and consuming alcohol, never simultaneously though, as it often results in a person's adulthood ending early. Briefly, teenagers are afraid of growing up, yet seduced by the power and freedom of adulthood.
J.D. Salinger's novel, Catcher in the Rye, provides a glimpse of New York through the eyes of an American Teenager, Holden Caulfield. Ever since the death of his brother, Allie, Holden has struggled to let go of his childhood. He has developed a phobia of growing up, and uses excuses such as phoniness to justify himself. In order to justify his decision to delay his inevitable coming of age, he accuses the adult world of being phony. Holden's attitude shares many trai...

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...iery spirit. Perhaps when this energy is focused in a positive manner, the teen can conquer an infinite number obstacles. Perhaps the teen is a star. An source of energy, readily available for both destruction and creation. Perhaps, it is up to the adults of this world to guide teens, to focus teens, and to council teens, and to help teens become responsible, productive adult members of society. Perhaps, one day the teen will no longer be viewed as a nuisance, but rather a young man or woman who contains potential of colossal vastness.

Works Cited

Hine, Thomas. "Teenage Mystique." The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager. New York, NY 1999. Print.
Plath, Sylvia. "At Seventeen." Print.
Salinger, JD. The Catcher in the Rye. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company, 1991. Print.
Spider-Man. Director Sam Raimi. Performer Tobey McGuire. Columbia Pictures, 2002. DVD.

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