A Journey Towards Maturity And Identity Section: Thesis & Dissertations
What is going through Huck's mind as he alters his attitude on Jim, is unknown, however, his own identity is one that is truly caring and just. When Huck encounters the Grangerfords and the Shepardsons, he becomes aware of the hypocrisy of the family's feud with each other. When attending church with them, he is amazed that while a minister preaches about brotherly love, both the Grangerfords and the Shepardsons are carrying weapons. When the feud erupts, Huck hides in a tree wishing he never came ashore(Twain 106). The river allows Huck the one thing that he wants to be, and that is Huck. It is the river and what Huck encounters on the river that helps him to mature and to find purpose behind his own true identity. As Huck learned his identity on his adventure, Holden does much of same on his, so as to mature and to accomplish the journey of self discovery.
Holden Caulfields road of trials takes place from Pencey Prep to New York City. Holden deals with his own mental hallucinations, cognitive disotience, and his desire to stay innocent(Stevenson 301). At the start of Holdens journey, he appears to be a very irresponsible person. When he is assigned to look after his schools fencing equipment, he leaves the equipment on the train. He does not care about what he has done and does not even want to go back and look for it. Also, his attitude towards learning are atrocious, and when he finally flunks out of school, he does not bother to tell his parents. Instead, he escapes to New York City where he begins to learn things about himself and about others. However before he goes, he decides to visit his social studies teacher, who flunked him, to say good-bye. Also, he visits his previous English teacher to tell him he has flunked out of yet another school.
Maturity is evident because he is trying to persevere relationships with people he cares about. Along his journey, though, small changes suggest that Holden is growing up. He was once very selfish and did not like to share. However when he encounters two poor nuns traveling to another church, he gives them a large portion of his remaining money. This is a major step in Holdens own self discovery. Holden requires much help to come to terms with his maturity. Even though he constantly speaks as if he is experienced in connection and bonding, they were always just facades. Even when in the city Holden feels he is superior to his environment because he has a false knowledge of it and it's workings. This is shown when he wants to have a meaningful relationship with his old friend June but does not know how to come to grips on how.
Inspite of all he thinks he knows he is really only the faker he despises. While in the city Holden finds much comfort when with his sister Phoebe. When Holden first checks into the hotel, he is depressed and wants to call Phoebe but doesn't because its too late. But I certainly wouldn't have minded shooting the old crap with Phoebe for a while(Salinger 67). In comparison, Holden and Huck in their adventures show that they choose to live in a decadent society in order to help other live as they wish to live rather than to withdraw in order to preserve their own scruples or force their own brand of salvation on others(Stevick 3).
The road of trials that both Holden and Huck experienced helped them to mature and find their own true identities. What Holden went through helped him to grow, and what Huck experienced helped him to mature. This now brings way to their flee and return where both Huck and Holden are forced to make decisions with where they want to go. The flee and return comes after the character completes his obstacles and is allowed to return to reality, the real world(Crispell 43). At this point, the characters have now mentally grown and have shown new signs of maturity. Huck and Holden are both social misfits and want to escape civilization. After Huck frees Jim, he chooses to set out for new territory. He has arrived at maturity and self sufficiency and he is poised at the end in a delicate balance(Adams 89).
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