Image link: http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2012/10/10/3607804.htm
Image citation: 2012. Thinkstock. By Marcia Pally. Web. 9 May 2014.
Individualism
One common theme that literature presents about teenagers is that they are focused on being an individual rather than acting within societal boundaries. Individualism is described by the Merriam Webster
Dictionary as “the actions or attitudes of a person who does things without being concerned about what other people will think” (Merriam Webster). Essentially, literature is stating that adolescents have the desire within them to act the way they want to, no matter what anyone else thinks. Literature will commonly have their teen characters wanting to do things their way, even if everyone else is doing it a different way. However, despite the fact that teens have the desire to act independently to fulfill their goals, it is evident within the literature that they are unable to succeed in doing things their own way without an adult's assistance. The literature is showing that even though teens act rebellious and stubborn, they still ultimately need an adults help to succeed with their goals.
This idea appears in these works:
Siddhartha
The Alchemist
Catcher in the Rye
Lord of the Flies
Antigone
Midsummer Night's Dream
Dictionary as “the actions or attitudes of a person who does things without being concerned about what other people will think” (Merriam Webster). Essentially, literature is stating that adolescents have the desire within them to act the way they want to, no matter what anyone else thinks. Literature will commonly have their teen characters wanting to do things their way, even if everyone else is doing it a different way. However, despite the fact that teens have the desire to act independently to fulfill their goals, it is evident within the literature that they are unable to succeed in doing things their own way without an adult's assistance. The literature is showing that even though teens act rebellious and stubborn, they still ultimately need an adults help to succeed with their goals.
This idea appears in these works:
Siddhartha
The Alchemist
Catcher in the Rye
Lord of the Flies
Antigone
Midsummer Night's Dream