Rock Bottom In AJ Cronin’s The Citadel and The Stars Look Down

It is talked about by everyone from politicians to sports stars. The idea of personal growth and development. This single idea is influenced by chemical connections in our brains to various beliefs in deities. His background as a Medical Doctor greatly influenced his work as demonstrated through his characters psychological changes. AJ Cronin asserts in his novels, The Stars Look Down and The Citadel, that in order for true personal development to occur one must go through a nearly tragic experience where there seems to be no easily accessible solution. He demonstrates this through his main characters with their evolving perspectives and settings to eventually become their new selves after reaching a low point regarding emotions, morals, or event the law.
Before one can analyze the ways in which Cronin demonstrates how an individual becomes self enlightened it is necessary to explain what the process of personal development is. Personal development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. Many discuss the idea in great detail including ways to initiate development. One prominent figure in the field was Lawrence Kohlberg, an American phycologist. He developed what’s popularly known as Kohlberg's Three Levels and Six Stages of Moral Reasoning. The first stage is “pre-conventional” where a individual is focused on obedience and avoiding punishment and is also considered self-oriented. The second stage is “Conventional” where the individual is interpersonal and conforms to maintain a social orientation. The last stage, “Post-Conventional,” is arguably on...

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...who goes to college.
In the mine Joe exhibits a pre-conventional stage of development where he exists to please others. A quote from one of the older coal miners illuminates this, “All you got to think about is making your way. Someday you’re going to do something about this industry of ours. The men have great hopes on you lad. Here with the great hopes of others riding on is shoulders Joe strives for excellence.
Joe finds himself in a doldrum of depression and confusion after losing his girlfriend, Jenny. Worse than just loosing her, he finds out that she left him for a another man David Fenwick a friend from the mine. He feelings are shown in this quote. “There she is out again with him today. It’s bad enough Jenny acting as she does but when its my best friend. I mean its more than flesh and blood can stand. I’d never have thought it a man like David Fenwick.”