Rite Of Passage

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Our brains are powerful biological computers with the ability to retain long term memories. Imagine that a baby is learning to walk and finally takes that great leap of faith in his body. The baby takes his first step forward, then another and a few more steps are taken and then the babies wobbly legs give way. The baby falls flat on its buttocks. Instantly the baby has taken one of first rite of passages that is universal to humanity. Learning to walk as a child the ability to overcome previous barriers and broken free into new territory. Often times these memories consist of the various forms of formal and inform rite of passages that humans accumulate over their long lives. The brain remembers these memories because they hold importance …show more content…

As usual in academia there are conflicting definitions. The dictionary definition is a ritual associated with a crisis or a change of status (as marriage, illness, or death) for an individual and the first use was reported only as far back as 1909 (Rite of passage (n.d.). Yet, Santrock (2013) states that the definition is . According to Delaney (1995) the forms of adolescent rites of passage vary greatly; however, the need for separation, involvement of an elder, transition, and a recognized change in status is clear (Delaney 1995). Delaney continues directing the conversation towards how adolescence and rite of passages go hand and hand. These elements are found ubiquitously in the behavior of human at this stage of life (Delaney 1995). If our society does not adequately provide for these needs in a formalized structure, young people will seek to create their own rites (Delaney 1995). Nevertheless, the general idea of a rite of passage is grasped, and the time of adolescence is filled with more examples of rite of passages than any other period in a human …show more content…

Manifest Destiny was a rite of passage for an entire national growing into adolescence by expanding the American ideals and culture west far from where the original 13 colonies began. Specifically, Whitman calls upon the “tan faced children” to go into the “mightier world”. The same as when a student graduates from high school and must enter the large unknown world. He even mentions the “elder races”, referring to the England and other colonizing countries, and meaning the parent figure for the rite of passage to separate from. Whitman mentions five times referring to youthful aspects of audience he is writing to. Whitman is rallying America to go through a rite of passage to conquer the unbroken west. He speaks of the burden one must undertake to go through the rite of passage which forewarned that the moment in time will dictate one’s actions till the next rite of passage

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