Barn Burning and AandP Rite of Passage Journeys by Young Men

Rite of Passage: Journeys by Young Men “The glory of the nation rests in the character of her men. And character comes from boyhood. Thus every boy is a challenge to his elders.” Herbert Hoover Obtaining rite of passage can take place anywhere from childhood upward into the twenties or even thirties, but is most commonly under-taken in the late teen years. In the short stories “A&P” by John Updike, and “Barn Burning” by …

…in all cultures and walks of life. Some transitions are of greater magnitude than others. But, all transformations stem from a conscience decision to make a stand on what is believed to be important and right. In both examples the young men have rebelled against the inflexible social systems that surrounded them thereby earning their rite of passage into manhood. “The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.” Mahatma Gandhi