Life is filled with goals that humans strive for to improve and advance their lives. However, none are as important or as hard to achieve than maturity. It is a measure of responsibility, the patience to wait out the tough times, the understanding to pass up present pleasures for the success of long-term goals and all this depends on the ability to control oneself. When humans realize the complexity of the world before their eyes and rather than succumb to these setbacks, maturity is the courage to stand up to these problems. It is the modesty required to being able to take responsibility for one’s mistakes, and sacrificing one’s interest for other people’s gains. Both novels, Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, dwells upon this topic in detail as the main theme. By telling two different stories of kids taking maturity head on, readers are propelled into their own memory of the time when they started making decisions and following it through. Growing up is the journey to the bigger world away from the protective arms of parents, doing what is needed and having the humility to face one’s own mistakes. Only when this is achieved can an individual finally conclude that they have finally stepped out of childhood and into the adult world.

The first requirement for growing up is to escape the shield that are one’s parents and survive in the outer world, away from the place called home. Whether this occurs later in life or earlier, it is a stepping-stone to maturity. When Zooey gives “an explosive sound, mostly through nose, of either laughter or the opposite of laughter.” (Salinger page 105) when suggested by his mother to get married, this gives the readers the impression of his attitude and opinion of his mother. He views marriage an important event in his own life and refuses it to be dictated by his parents. He realizes that to become a successful member of his world, he will have to make his own choices. This position taken by Zooey illustrates the time in one’s life when parents are viewed as an irritation merely due to young adults trying to make their own decisions. The tone of Zooey’s statement is even more stereotypical of that age; it is filled with confidence, poise and enthusiasm needed for newcomers to the adult world to survive. This obligation of being responsible for making one’s own decision is also demonstrated by Lily Owens in The Secret Life of Bees. She shows her determination to do what is right for her future when “in a matter of seconds [she] knew exactly what [she] had to do-leave” (Kidd page 41). Up to this point in the novel T. Ray, Lily’s father, is described as spiteful and hateful. For instance, when “T. Ray refused to let [her] bring books out” (Kidd page 15) to read while selling peaches, it reveals T. Ray’s ignorance and disbelief for his daughter having a chance for a better future. By running away, literally, from a place she has called home, shows Lily’s understanding of the kind of father she has and the obstacle hindering her own success. Even though the shield provided by her father was negligible, Lily being a fourteen year old summons the courage to make an educated decision for her own outlook. Both characters prove through different experiences the importance of independence and not relying on one’s parents for all executive decisions, and taking initiative to solve one’s own problems.

On the road to independence lie many tough obstacles. This idea is lost to children, whom the world seems to be a playground dedicated to their fun and games, but to those who are seeking maturity, it is filled with tough choices of desires and necessities. The self-control demonstrated by an individual is the fine line between childhood and adulthood.

Knowing the difference between what is wanted and needed, and the perseverance to carry it out are requirements of coming of age. When Zooey’s mother tells him to speak to Franny about her problems, Zooey is able to demonstrate his maturity by talking “to [Franny] for two solid hours last night.” (Salinger page 77). This shows understanding of the situation. As his sister lies on their sofa sick and disgusted about the materialism in life, Zooey stepped in to counsel Franny. He not only knew what the problem is, but also has the self-control to follow it through. Demonstrated by this simple act, readers can conclude Zooey possesses the self-control to separate him from the immature. The same characteristics are seen in Lilly when she knew she “had to get Rosaleen out of jail” (Kidd page 41). There was the possibility of Rosaleen being killed after offending some white men during a period filled with racism. Even with the immense peril to her own safety, Lily sacrificed her own well being to rescue Rosaleen, again this develops Lily’s character as mature by knowing what is required of her and putting other’s well being before her own. Both examples demonstrate Lily and Zooey maturity when they differentiate what they feel like doing and what is essential.

On this road to maturity, the line between right and wrong is often impossible to tell. A human being growing up will be making difficult decisions, which under some circumstances can be incorrect due to inexperience.

The ability to stand up to one’s own past mistakes takes another kind of courage and is what truly defines maturity. This action is without any acknowledgements or awards from others, but purely it is the right thing to do. The two main characters demonstrate this trait to a different degree. Zooey blames his oldest brother Seymour for filling Franny and himself with religion and moral knowledge from a young age, and thus causing Franny to have her breakdown. He complains “everybody in the family gets his god dam religion in a different package,” (Salinger page 154). By expressing this view, he pushes all his responsibility on to his brother. He does not look at his own personal flaws in a self-critical fashion. This provides an argument against Zooey in how mature he really is, but one has to remember there is no perfect human being. Lily, on the other hand, accepts her mistakes by recognizing other people’s reactions and proceeds to fixing them. After an outburst of anger at August Boatwright, she realizes she has “hurt August, disappointed her and something about that punched a hole in [Lily]” (Kidd page 253). After she realizes what she has done, Lily immediately apologizes. This is a great example of how she has grown throughout the novel. Being able to apologize requires great selflessness and humbleness. Examining the two characters’ approach to their problems demonstrate a small difference in attitude, but one that is significant enough to proclaim Lily as the more mature of the two.

Maturity is not something you are born with, but a character trait that is learned through life experiences. Both Zooey and Lily demonstrate the progress they made by taking responsibility for their own life. Their actions and mistakes propelled them forward on this journey and contributed to their better understanding of themselves and the people around them. Maturity is not only about what you think is right, but also being responsible enough to admit when you are wrong and have the courage act accordingly. When a human being is able to live life with things that cannot change, the courage to change the things that can and the wisdom to know the difference, then it maturity is truly obtained.