A Journey Through Adolescence
Herman Hesse, the German author of the novel, Siddhartha, was born on June 2nd of 1877 in Calw Württemberg, Germany. The novel was written in 1922. Throughout the novel, he used religious elements and symbolic motifs. He passed away in 1962. If you would like to see how this novel, recognized as an outstanding read, relates to the life of a teenager, learn more here…
Life of A Teenage Boy
The life of a teenager is very strenuous. They face many everyday challenges such as pressures, stress, responsibility, and status. These challenges cause teenagers to go a journey, on search for who they truly are. Here is a scenario of a male Highschool student. There is a 16 year old Highschoool student named Justin. He is 5’5”and 110 pounds as a junior. He does not play any sports, finds joy from reading books, wears flooded pants to school everyday and does not have many friends. In today’s society a typical teenage boy in Highschool is expected to play at least one sport, have a whole bunch of friends, use social media, have a good sense of fashion, have a few lady friends, and have completed some type of sexual activity. A standard has been set for boys to live up to, and when they fail to live up to expectations, they are bullied or pressured into changing their actions and perspective on life. Furthermore, there are positive and negative views as to how society depicts the life of a teenage boy.
Positives and Negatives
Teenage boys are to be raised as gentleman, for example treating women with the upmost respect. They are supposed to be seen as a symbol of respect; helping their elders, protecting their siblings, and setting an example. Also, boys have a sense of pride to be the best in whatever activity they participate in. Furthermore, boys deal with the challenges of fitting in, becoming popular, making sports teams and being good in them, dealing with their emotions, controlling their hormones, exploring, and spending their highschool years figuring out who they really are. While they are on this journey choices will be made and consequences will be enforced; some good and some bad.
A Journey to Enlightenment or Rebellion
Teenager’s behavior is based off of an adult perspective, not a teenager’s perspective; furthermore explaining why literature depicts teenagers in a more negative way, than positive. In literature, teenagers are seen as rebellious, naïve, ignorant, disobedient, and immature. There are some positives such as attempting to be successful and finding their true self. For instance in the novel, Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, the main character Siddhartha is considered all of the following characteristics above. He is rebellious for wanted to leave his father, naïve and ignorant for going out on his own, and disobedient to himself when he constantly returns to his desires. Although he is depicted in a negative way, if he had not set out on his own journey, he would not have found his true self and reached enlightenment. Literature has the wrong idea of a teenager. Adults, although most refuse to admit, went through the same period of trial and error as a teenager; it is the only true way to grow and mature. Like Siddhartha, teenagers need to learn from experience. Adults see the negative side of teenagers, but in reality, because of their mistakes, they know who they truly are and overcame the standards of society.
Work Cites
"Hermann Hesse." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.
"Hermann Hesse." - Books, Biography, Quotes. Web. 19 May 2014.
"Hermann Hesse." - Books, Biography, Quotes. Web. 19 May 2014.