Essay On Coming Of Age In America
Mark Grim
Ms. Pratt
English 11 CP
11 May 2011
Coming of Age in America What is coming of age? Everyone has different answers to that question. In America it isn’t any different. To some it’s about more tangible things. For others it comes suddenly, with traumatic experiences and struggle. Sometimes, it’s about self discovery, figuring life out, and becoming aware of the world around them. By definition, in America you’re legally an adult when you turn 18. Although some will say it’s later or earlier because you can get your permit at 16, but you need to wait until you’re 21 to drink. Others will say that it’s about superficial things like losing your virginity, getting married, having kids, smoking, and cursing. Although intangible, I believe coming of age is defined by character. Sometimes some us will mature at an early age through trying circumstances, suck as poverty and loss of life among friends and …show more content…
In the beginning, we follow four boys, short of entering high school, that set out to find a corpse out of curiosity. They hide behind false bravado, smoking and cursing as much as they can, but they end up being humbled and disillusioned along the way. As they travel through railroads and forests, they begin to open up to each other and go through life changing realizations. The leader of the group, Chris, confesses his feelings about his future. He believes that it’s set in stone for him to follow his family’s footsteps, that he’ll end up like his alcoholic dad and troublesome brother. But in the end he decides to take college preparatory classes in high school instead of settling for manual labor. And even though he tears up in front of his friend, Gordy, during his confession, when he and his friends find the corpse, they encounter a gang that Chris bravely stands up to at knife
Ms. Pratt
English 11 CP
11 May 2011
Coming of Age in America What is coming of age? Everyone has different answers to that question. In America it isn’t any different. To some it’s about more tangible things. For others it comes suddenly, with traumatic experiences and struggle. Sometimes, it’s about self discovery, figuring life out, and becoming aware of the world around them. By definition, in America you’re legally an adult when you turn 18. Although some will say it’s later or earlier because you can get your permit at 16, but you need to wait until you’re 21 to drink. Others will say that it’s about superficial things like losing your virginity, getting married, having kids, smoking, and cursing. Although intangible, I believe coming of age is defined by character. Sometimes some us will mature at an early age through trying circumstances, suck as poverty and loss of life among friends and …show more content…
In the beginning, we follow four boys, short of entering high school, that set out to find a corpse out of curiosity. They hide behind false bravado, smoking and cursing as much as they can, but they end up being humbled and disillusioned along the way. As they travel through railroads and forests, they begin to open up to each other and go through life changing realizations. The leader of the group, Chris, confesses his feelings about his future. He believes that it’s set in stone for him to follow his family’s footsteps, that he’ll end up like his alcoholic dad and troublesome brother. But in the end he decides to take college preparatory classes in high school instead of settling for manual labor. And even though he tears up in front of his friend, Gordy, during his confession, when he and his friends find the corpse, they encounter a gang that Chris bravely stands up to at knife