THEMES - THEME ANALYSIS

The arching theme of Coming of Age is almost self-explanatory as the novel is based on Adam's struggle with maturity and the sudden imposition of adult responsibilities due to the start of the Revolutionary War. As the character analysis shows, Adam begins the novel as a teenager who wishes to be seen as more mature by his parents but is unable to prove himself. The historical and the personal are woven closely together for Adam's story, as his own maturation corresponds to the awakening of America's national identity. As a stand-in for the nascent American identity, Adam must fight for the principle of inalienable human rights while still maintaining a strong moral standard - to be willing to fight for nationhood and all its stands for, but not become bloodthirsty in that pursuit. Adam succeeds personally in the end, though at the cost of his innocence. Adam is sharply aware of this loss at the end, but knows there is no turning back.

Perhaps what's most interesting about this theme is how much it is centered on Adam's development but no one other character's. Part of this may be attributed to Adam being the narrator, another part to the limited time frame. Still, the profound change in Adam's outlook can be starkly contrasted to the way others continue on very much in the same manner as before. The adults deal with death and loss in their own manner, but there is no Coming of Age for them, of course. Despite having witnessed war up-close, Levi is not mature enough to completely appreciate the seriousness of it - he laments the death of his father, but still has a child's delight in war and violence. For her part, Ruth Simmons asks Adam if she loves him but there are no overtures to change her present-day life because of .........

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