Coming-of-age does not just involve cakes, parties, and grandparents, it is something much more exciting than that. Coming-of-age is the time when children gain new perspectives that will forever change their life. These perspectives may come from a great teacher, a mission trip, or even a disease. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is an excellent example of gaining perspectives. To Kill a Mockingbird is not only an intense book about a young girl’s adventure, but it also has a deeply philosophical meaning. David Dobb’s “Beautiful Brains” is also a good example of how coming-of-age involves gaining new perspectives. “Beautiful Brains” explains the science behind why coming-of-age involves gaining new perspectives. To Kill a Mockingbird’s …show more content…
On a dreary day some time in April, 2013 I received the unfortunate news that I have been diagnosed with severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease, also known as Crohn’s disease. On this day, over three years later, I have become extremely interested in medicine and healthcare, I have been invited to camps at John Hopkin’s University in Maryland, and I have successfully achieved remission! On top of that I have re-confirmed my faith with Jesus and I feel that he has greatly helped me get through this difficult time. My frightening experience has given me a grand new perspective on the world! I feel that God wants me to become a medical surgeon so I can help people with horrible diseases like mine and others. The thought of helping people in the name of God has changed my perspective about my medical condition. Gaining this new perspective has most definitely helped my coming-of-age process.
Coming-of-age is still an interesting phenomenon because of how complex people’s personalities are. Authors repeatedly include this into their work because of it’s deep meaning. Harper Lee and David Dobbs are both examples of authors who included this concept into their work even though Lee hides it in her’s and Dobbs flat out states it. But there is one thing that both of these authors agree on, Coming-of-age involves recognizing different
Perspectives can change beliefs in many ways. In Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, Bob Ewell hears and sees Atticus defending Tom Robinson who is black, therefore, he believes Atticus ‘loves niggers’. Jem, Scout, and Dill have never seen Boo Radley come out at day and they hear rumors that Boo only comes out at night. People believe rumors and their perspectives until they get the truth and change their beliefs.
Coming of age is defined as the transition from one’s youth to his or her adulthood. Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, and Lord of the Flies by William Golding all explore this concept. Romeo and Juliet is a story about two star-crossed lovers in the depths of forbidden love despite an ancient family feud. House on Mango Street is a series of vignettes about a young Latina girl’s life growing up in Chicago. Lastly, Lord of the Flies is about a group of abandoned children who work to survive on a deserted island. Each of these stories provides details as to what characteristics define a mature individual, and they also show the various processes to achieve this maturity.
The coming of age novel is about a boy name Theodore Decker that goes by Theo. Beginning the novel, Theo and his mother visit a museum that is targeted by a terrorist attack. Theo takes a painting his mother admires on an impulse. Theo takes the painting wherever he goes, keeping the secret that he’s hiding a multi-million-dollar painting. Donna Tartt takes a different perspective on the setting in the book. Instead of being the light filled, energized state that New York is known to be. She describes the other side of the city which is quiet neighborhoods filled which little shops, and restaurants that don’t have many customers. Giving a different perspective on the state instead of following along with the stereotype. The book also, informs youth on the dangers of drugs. Theo is heavily involved in drugs through his childhood and adulthood. Relying on drugs to get through his days, most of Theo’s bad decisions are done while he is on drugs. Showing teens and adults that drugs can have negative impacts on one’s life. Some parents may disagree with their child reading this book because Theo’s experience with drugs are very detailed. Contrarily, many lessons can be learned through the novel. Theo went from a child who was dependent on his mother to a lost, lonely boy who’s trying to find his place in a big world. On the way to doing this he made mistakes, but Theo learned from these mistakes. One thing I really enjoyed was that the book was split up into parts. Since it is such a long book, breaking it up in parts makes the book easier to read in a way. Concluding, I do recommend this novel, because it can teach teens and even adult mistakes to learn from. I would recommend for an AP literature class or test, because it actually is an enjoyable book to read with morals hidden inside. In a class setting, though the book may be too
Understanding perspective is essential to understanding people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird presents this idea in multiple passages of her writing. It can be seen in the rough, unknown troubles that people face despite their wrongful actions. As well as the rumours that are untrue and give complete false impressions of people. Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird uses these topics to illustrate the dangers of judging others before getting to know them.
Coming-of-Age The authors and the readers have indirect communication through the literature. The author gives his or her ideas by creating authentic stories. Sometimes their ideas are straightforward for the readers to be awake or to learn the authors’ purpose of writing. Most authors emphasize their philosophic opinions, reasons and events that reflect society where we live in.
When coming-of-age a person will be continually experiencing, and learning new things. As this happens that person will develop and gain new perspectives on life and the world around them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is found gaining new perspectives while she comes-of-age. In David Dobbs’ article “Beautiful Brains”, he shows and explains how gaining new perspectives is a part of coming-of-age. Developing different perspectives is really what coming-of-age is all about. It causes an individual to see the world in a new light, which widens their knowledge and helps them to fully come-of-age and grow
Coming of age is a popular theme in literature with many authors, directors, and musicians basing their work around it. They create works with the intent to examine our youth from different perspectives. Two great examples of this would be the film The Breakfast Club and novel The Perks of being a wallflower. Both show a realistic and relatable take on the lives of high schoolers, however I’d argue Breakfast Club better accomplishes this goal. The Breakfast Club takes each classic high school stereotype and grants the viewer some understanding as to who they really are beneath their label, compared to The perks of being a wallflower which performs poorly in trying to accurately portray high school life.
When scout comes to the conclusion that people are hard to understand, and you have to make an effort to understand them she gained a new perspective. Gaining a new perspective through realizing people are hard to understand, or change shows coming of age. In the national geographic article “beautiful brains” David Dobbs shows how gaining new perspectives during coming of age helps individuals to be smarter and more successful. The article states that “[your brain] has already reached 90 percent of its full size by the time a person is six” (Dobbs 44).
The Start of Change People will be impacted by others around them or other life events, that will change them into a different version of themselves. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout is just your everyday girl until a life-changing discussion happens with her father, causing her to change. Lee characterizes Scout as childish at the beginning of the novel, but by the end of the novel, Scout has developed into a compassionate young woman. In chapter 9 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout gots into a fight with her cousin, Francis, in the front yard.
"A coming of age experience can happen any time during one’s life, most often when it is least expected. It does not discriminate. It is the thread that sews humanity together, a phenomenon, which is undeniable. Convention tells us, it is a defining moment in a child’s life, when the world somehow becomes his or her own" (Heslov, pg. 1). Harper Lee did an excellent job of representing how Scout grew to comprehend the world around her in To Kill A Mockingbird. This novel could be considered a “coming of age” story because Scout learned how to understand people’s perspectives and their personal obstacles.
Whether Karmen placed her touch so close to his crotch on purpose, Duane wasn't certain, and was not about to ask. The thief had quickly become accustomed to the woman's quick wit, and ability to reciprocate, with interest, any teasing of his own, and though he'd usually have no problem with engaging her, or indeed sliding her fingers subtly higher as a test to see if and when she'd stop him, this wasn't the time. Not when he'd be required to concentrate on the road, with his own hands mostly occupied, for the next one hundred miles, whilst she'd be totally free to do as she wished. There could only be one winner. Duke attempted to pretend nonchalance, which wasn't an easy task, and a fact likely caught by the woman. Thankfully, she said nothing.
Coming of age is a very trying time for both adults and their children. Children have a tough time because they are going through many new things and are always changing. While the parents have to deal with this phase of constant changes. When these teens and children are in this phase of constant change it helps them to become mature by recognizing new and different perspectives by realizing that not everyone is exactly like them.
Veering sharply to the right, a large flock of birds neatly avoids a high wall.
Coming to age represents the transition from a coward child to a courageous adult. For
Imagine you are a lawyer tasked with an impossible case, and everybody in your community is against you, but still there is a shred of hope you cling to. What might that be you ask? That to which you cling are your morals. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch had been given the Tom Robinson case, where a black man was convicted of raping a white woman. As a single father of two children, he continues to reinforce his values throughout the trial and during his daunting task of raising his children. In To Kill A Mockingbird what Harper Lee suggests about the nature of morals is that you should try to stand up for what you believe in even if people oppose or reject your ideals. Even when faced with an insurmountable opposition you should stand up for your morals because in the end if your don't follow your beliefs you are just contributing to the problem. We should try to create a voice for what we believe in and impress that upon the next generation so they can continue to exercise their beliefs to make the world a better place.