Jaewoon's Coming of Age Blog

 I think a common idea In Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar is that of expectation. Esther is constantly expected to follow both societal norms and the expectations of the people around her. She is unable to find her own path in life leading to her downward spiraling situation, trapped underneath the bell jar.  Esther Greenwood's mother plays a significant role in trapping her daughter with her expectations. Mrs. Greenwood has a predetermined image of what Esther should be, well educated, refined and virgin, ideas that align with what society expects. She pushes Esther to study, participate in extracurricular activities and maintain her appearance. Initially, Esther attempts and accomplishes her mothers goals, being a high achieving student with a scholarship and attending a writing club, but is eventually overwhelmed by the pressure to live up to her mother's standards. By following her mothers expectations, she feels like she is losing her sense of self in the process, an...

The Catcher in the Rye protagonist Holden Caulfield is obsessed with the idea of childhood. Throughout the novel he idolizes childhood. He longs for a time when life was innocent and easier. To Holden, childhood not only represents innocence, but also his fear and resistance to come of age and become an adult. Holden’s obsession with childhood can often be seen in his interactions with Phoebe, his younger sister. Even before meeting Phoebe, she is described as an authentic and a truly real person in Holden’s pessimistic view of superficiality in the world. To him, she represents the embodiment of childhood innocence and purity and someone who truly understands his struggles. Though despite being younger than Holden, she is more mature in some ways. After Holden sneaks into his home to meet her, she is upset with him and understands the necessity of maturing, answering critically to Holden's story. In some ways, Holden’s immaturity and inability to deal with the situation makes him ...