Analysis of Adolescence in Famous Literature
Analysis of Adolescence in Famous Literature
What is adolescence? The dictionary states that adolescence is the time of life between puberty and maturity. During adolescence a young person goes through a serious of dramatic changes. Adolescents grow and adjust to a new physical, emotional, and social outlook on life. They begin to analyze the world around them and start to question his/her outlook on life. In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, and The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, the picture of adolescence is portrayed through the characters in each work. His/her social situation, environment, and time period affect each character’s adolescence.
In Romeo and Juliet, the portrayal of adolescence is one of the main themes of this work. This novel takes place in Verona during the Middle Ages. This work is about two families, the Montague’s and the Capulet’s, who have been feuding for a very long time. There are two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who will do anything to be together even if it means death. Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet. They are forbidden to interact with each other. Even though they are told not to talk to each other they go against their parents’ wishes and talk with each other. In a passage from Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence talks to Romeo and says:
“Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! Is Rosaline, that thou didst
love so dear, so soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies not truly in
their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Shakespeare 89)
Friar Lawrence says that Romeo is fickle and that he loves not by his heart, but by his eyes. This work portrays the adolescent as being rebellious and how the adolescent is very fickle. Romeo and Juliet get married and problems start to occur. They end up killing themselves because of adolescent love. If Romeo and Juliet were to sit down and think of the consequences that were ahead, they would not have acted so boldly. Romeo and Juliet felt that they were capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to, but that was incorrect. If they were acted more rational then they would not have died.
They lacked the maturity and the ability to handle the situation.
The portrayal of adolescence in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is one of the main themes in this work. This...