Some adolescent behavior would be known as laughing at the ridiculous, emotionalism, searching for approval, among many more. First, the laughing at the ridiculous would be one that would classify just about ninety percent of all teens in America. Everyone laughs at ridiculous things, but teens and the youth take it to a whole new level. First, teens always are laughing at racial and mean, nasty jokes that are said. We see it all the time where ever you go; you just cannot escape it. Next, teens are always emotional, if you push the wrong button; it is going to get ugly. Then, searching for approval is an easy one, teens and the youth are trying to make their parents like them in some way but it does not always work out that way. Adult behavior is a lot different from the youth behavior.
Adulthood is all about making the right choices, growing up, living with your mistakes, and being mature. Darcy and Elizabeth both show these characteristics. Both Darcy and Lizzy, both act as adults but as the novel goes on, they mature a lot more, Elizabeth less than Darcy. Darcy matures towards the middle of the novel. He is an adult but he does have traits from adolescence. Sometimes in the novel you will here, quotes from Elizabeth’s family saying, “ Don’t do this, don’t do that, be nice.” So Lizzy does act like a youth sometimes. Although, what we can say is she acts more of a mature adult.
Also, Jane will say many things to Elizabeth, just like Mr. Bingley will say to Darcy. Like, “Be mature, be nice, and be respectful.” By the end of the book, I believe they become more of an adult, especially when they get married. The two act very similar, but not exactly the same, when it comes to being an adult, and having adult like traits. They have their differences, but they do have similarities when it comes to the way they act. For instance, at the dance Bingley proposes that Darcy should dance with Elizabeth, but Darcy (immaturely) rejects and says "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."(13)
In conclusion, we can see that adolescence and adulthood both play a very important role in this novel. The meaning of adolescence can be defined as the transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development, extending mainly over the teen years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached; youth. The definition of adulthood is known as having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature. Both Elizabeth and Darcy act as adults throughout the whole novel, in the end more than in the beginning. They never truly acted as an adolescent. I compared and contrasted the two, in their behaviors. I also, discussed the chart we did as class work.
