Joseph Epstein The Perpetual Adolescent Summary

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Joseph Epstein’s “The Perpetual Adolescent” argues that the new norm in today’s society is to stay young for as long as possible rather than to continue on to adulthood. In Epstein’s point of view, this goes against human nature. Epstein points out many examples of the perpetual adolescent by explaining how staying young for as long as possible prohibits people from taken life seriously. This leads many people to postpone the important tasks of getting a job and getting married and to settle down in their own home. Epstein mentions that the creations of Rock n Roll, Catcher in the Rye, and even the election of our youngest President JFK has created a movement that has us trying to stay as young as possible for as long as possible. In his essay, Epstein argues that this movement to stay young has lowered society’s expectations and intelligence of the nation. Epstein tries to make the connection between how people dressed when he was young to how people dress in today’s society and how that is the reason for why people of …show more content…

There were days that CEO’s and other high professional people choose to not dress formally and that does not mean that they are immature. Steve Jobs was the CEO of Apple and he choose to dress informally and that does not mean that he is immature and drove his business into the ground. Steve Jobs is actually the reason for the success behind the growth of Apple. The rhetorical theme that he uses in this part of his essay is ineffective and demonstrates his inability in reasoning. People began to question Epstein’s article because of him comparing two eras that were created by two different set of circumstances. So people now dress to appear younger to relieve themselves of all the stress that is created from the competitiveness that many face every day. Dressing is not a legitimate way to measure someone’s

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