Back to School Classics

By Megan Powell, Magali Prel and Monique Smith

More commonly known as the coming-of-age novel, the Bildungsroman is a literary genre that explores a character’s formative years. Coming-of-age novels have been popular for some time due to their relatability and deep exploration of the human psyche. These novels often comment on the complexities of growing up and coming into adulthood, and serve as an important reminder that though growing old can be tough, it is incredibly rewarding and necessary.

In a Bildungsroman, the change in character of the protagonist is pivotal to the story. The protagonist often goes on a quest to find meaning during their childhood or teenagehood, and experiences the world in search for answers to life’s existential questions. With September being just around the corner, a month often synonymous with going back to school, the classics team have curated a list of classic coming-of-age novels with themes of alienation, social class or injustice and set in or around school/education.

The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by American writer J.D. Salinger, first published in 1951. The story is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a troubled and delusional teenager who recounts his experiences in New York City after being expelled from Pencey Prep, a renowned boarding school, due to poor academic performance. With his distaste for the school, he decides to leave and spend a few days in New York City alone.

Throughout the novel, Holden becomes increasingly alienated and depressed. His interactions with people only reinforce his pessimism, as he perceives the world to be superficial and disingenuous. He is haunted with feelings of loneliness and develops a fear of growing old, feeding into his desire to become the “catcher in the rye,” a guardian who saves children from falling off a cliff – a metaphor for losing their innocence.

The Catcher in the Rye is a powerful coming-of-age novel which discusses the painful experiences of growing up and explores the tensions between the innocence of youth and the complexities of adult life. Struggling to find a place where he belongs, Holden becomes more and more alienated, something that has a profound impact on his mental wellbeing. With Holden reflecting on his psychological struggles, the novel serves as a powerful exploration of teenage angst and confusion.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by American writer Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters, detailing their exciting and emotional journey from childhood to adulthood. Alcott brilliantly portrays the conflict between the individual’s needs and desires, and the pressures and desires of society. The emphasis on domestic duties and family detracts from the various women’s abilities to nurture their own personal growth.

Through the four sisters, Alcott explores four possible ways to deal with being a woman bound by the constraints of nineteenth-century social expectations: marry young and create a new family, as Meg does; be subservient and dutiful to one’s parents and immediate family, as Beth is; focus on one’s art, pleasure and person, as Amy does; or struggle to live both a dutiful family life and a meaningful professional life, as Jo does.

While Meg and Beth conform to society’s expectations, Amy and Jo initially attempt to break free from these constraints and nurture their individuality. Eventually, however, both Amy and Jo marry and settle into a more customary life. While Alcott does not suggest that one model of womanhood is more desirable than the other, she does recognise that one is more realistic than the other.

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’ third novel, Nicholas Nickleby, captures the Bildungsroman essence by having the eponymous character, a nineteen-year-old boy, find work to support his family upon the death of their father. Sent away to become a teacher’s assistant by his ruthless uncle, Nicholas arrives at Dotheboys Hall.

As in many of Dickens’ novels, this 1839 classic explores the theme of injustice. It uses social commentary to explore the corruption of power and abuse within the institution of education – with the novel’s headmaster, Wackford Squeers, being the cruelest of all. Set in a boarding school for unfortunate and unwanted boys, the novel resembles the true experience of Dickens himself, who visited a similar institution and identified such mistreatment.

Like many of Dickens’ novels, Nicholas Nickleby reaches resolution by rewarding the good and punishing the bad. In this case, Squeers is given his comeuppance when Nicholas beats him before leaving the school with Smike to return home, where the pair continue on their Bildungsroman adventure. Nicholas Nickleby provides an imperative social critique on the school system and, being one of Dickens’ earlier works, demonstrates his inherent penchant for storytelling.