Novels/short stories written in the 20s or 30s about adolescence

[aaron stark]

As the title suggests, I'm looking for sixteen or seventeen-year-old characters who find themselves on the path to maturity. Two criteria: the novel must be written in the beginning of last century, that is (preferably) 20s or 30s and it would be nice if the adolescent in question isn't the most easy kid to handle, just as Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye and Charlie in The Perks of Being A Wallflower. Since I'm planning on writing a thesis about these two works, I was wondering if there's also a third 'similar' character in literature in the mentioned period above. That would mean that the time spans between the three selected novels is equal and it would make a nice case for my thesis (boyhood in the 20s, late 40s/early 50s and early 90s).

The plan is to look at these three cases from a contemporary point of view, more specifically on a medical level. I've read an article in TIME Magazine, published some ten years ago ("What Makes Teens Tick") and I want to apply its content to these works: it's about the development of the teenage brain and the fact that they've found out that the processes of pruning and proliferation of the brain in the parts that are responsible for the executive functions (supressing thoughts, reasoning, considering, so basically deciding) are developed way too late. This means that the parts that have to do with sensation, excitement and all that stuff, that they are developed a lot earlier. So basically the teenage brain develops in the wrong direction, since the sensation part of the brain is situated in the back and the pre-frontal cortex in front (execute functions). Knowing that the brain takes shape from back to front, it makes sense in this case that teenagers are susceptible for impulsive behavior and do stupid things. In other words, the research team that has conducted all this wanted to make clear that the cause of the behavior of rebellious teenagers isn't only the fault of hormons running wild. A good example is given: it's like putting an unskilled driver behind wheels, who's about to put the key in the ignition.

As for this third work, I was thinking on perhaps going for Farrell's The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan or F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise. Anyone familiar with these works? If so, would it be suitable for this case? If not, please don't hesistate to recommend me some other novels or short stories.

Thanks in advance!!!

[aaron stark]

I really hope someone can help me out!

[coeus]

That's a tough one. The only other ones I can think of from that time period are To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, but those both feature younger girls and neither is as messed up as Holden Caulfield or Charlie. Horseman, Pass By by Larry McMurtry might fit, but it's also set in the 50's/60's, as is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson is a little later, the 70's I think, but Jess is only a 5th grader. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is in the wrong century.

This Side of Paradise might be your best bet, but Amory Blaine is a little older than your other two, spending time in college and the army in the novel. I will keep thinking.

[hawthorns]

They're a little older than you requested, but I believe Brideshead is set in the early 20s.

[aaron stark]

That's a tough one. The only other ones I can think of from that time period are To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, but those both feature younger girls and neither is as messed up as Holden Caulfield or Charlie. Horseman, Pass By by Larry McMurtry might fit, but it's also set in the 50's/60's, as is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson is a little later, the 70's I think, but Jess is only a 5th grader. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is in the wrong century.

This Side of Paradise might be your best bet, but Amory Blaine is a little older than your other two, spending time in college and the army in the novel. I will keep thinking.

Thank you very much for your response. As for Amory Blaine, if I'm not mistaken the novel is about his early academic career at Princeton, so he should be around seventeen or eighteen. In a way, it would be a nice comparison: Charlie 15 years old, Holden Caulfield 16-17 years old and Amory 17-18. I must say, I haven't read it yet, but I suppose you have. While reading the plot on Wikipedia, I had the feeling Amory also did some impulsive and 'stupid' things throughout the story, but I have no idea to what extent. Can you tell me more about this?

[coeus]

It's been a while since I have read it. If I remember correctly, the novel's first chapter summarizes Amory's childhood. Then he is at Princeton, and is there until his senior year, when he joins the army. That is the first half of the novel. So for most of the novel, he is probably 20+ years old.

You are right in that Amory is an impulsive character. His primary trait is narcissism, and he is a very shallow person. He falls in and out of love at the drop of a hat, and is more concerned with his place in society than anything else. His problems, though, did not, to me, seem as "serious" as those of Charlie and Holden. Just my opinion, of course.

You might want to see if you can find a Cliff's Notes or Spark Notes for the novel to see if it's what you are looking for. Or, if you are quick reader, you might just give it a go. I don't remember it being super long, maybe 300 pages or so.