The process of emerging from childhood into the world of adulthood is often thought of as a gradual action that is marked by physical growth and age. However, as one ends their journey to maturity, such a change is realized to be circuitous; adulthood is not marked by the steady change in seniority or corporeal growth but instead, by the rollercoaster of experiences one undergoes. Such experiences often carry deeper meaning and are representations of lessons and themes that one may carry with themselves for the rest of their life. In literature, incidents like these are referred to as symbols. Symbolism, in real life and fictional coming-of-age, is integral in the development of youth to adulthood. In the book, A Seperate Peace, author …show more content…
The summer session’s flexibility was astounding in that, “classes could be cut, meals missed, chapel skipped” (34). Though the Devon school focuses on education, the caretaking of students, and religious following, the boys are able to bend the rules and abuse their duties during the summer. This nonchalant summer attitude is parallel to the easygoingness of youth. As summer comes to an end and winter seems to come abruptly, Gene recounts, “we had been an idiosyncratic, leaderless band in the summer... Now, the official class leaders could be seen taking charge, assuming as a matter of course their control of these walks and fields which had belonged only to us” (74). In winter, students are stripped of freedoms and the lackadaisicalness of the summer session. Gene is restricted by his elders and is more frequently challenged by the harsher winter session; like adulthood, the winter session is darker and less carefree than the summer. As one can see, through analyzing the summer and winter sessions - symbols of youth and maturity respectively - one can better understand the change from child to adult and what characterizes such