oedipus.

In the short play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus struggles with defining his identity because he does not comprehend his past. Such an identity crisis is parallel to the way society would act if they had no recollection of their age. Before Oedipus understood his identity, he was not only confident, but content with who he believed himself to be. As he addressed his city he proudly proclaims, "here I am myself-- you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus" (7-9). His proud definition of his own self reveals that he does not need to know the truth to portray his identity, regardless of how wrong he is. This is similar to how the absences of labeling age as a number would allow people to blissfully act as they wish. 

In this case, ignorance form the truth allows for people to flourish as supposed to restricting oneself to the negative connotations that come with the truth, whether it be Oedipus's painful fate or an age old number. Oedipus is warned by the Shepard that "if you are the man he says you are, believe me you were born for pain" (13004-5). An undesirable fate could have been avoided if Oedipus did not seek the truth, similar to how a lack of association with age creates an open mind. It is not that the ignorance of age will physically change one's appearance... for a person’s body will continue to age regardless of what the mind believes the body to be. Oedipus, even when he was unaware of the meaning behind his past, still suffers from swollen feet and scars. Regardless of his physical attributes, he remains mentally sane until he comes to the realization of his past.

What we choose to believe is a detrimental factor towards shaping who we are. It's wrong to think that the social connotations that come with age are left to define who we are and change our mentality towards our behavior. Oedipus is a keen example of how the human mind is capable of seeing only what it wants to see; he saw what he thought was the truth and believed it until he was told otherwise, thus destroying every mental ideal he once held. Without the label of age, people will be more inclined to act as they please and not grow mentally old into a standard that others hold with age.  

the almighty question.

Stay in the lines... stay in the lines... 

I thought to myself as I attempted to put on my mother's lipstick like I was filling in a cartoon character in one of my childhood coloring books.

 I pushed myself upwards on my tiptoes as my feet swam in my mother's five-inch stilettos to get a better look at my adult like facade in the mirror....

Isn't it ironic how we spend out whole lives waiting to grow up, until we come to an age where we can do nothing but look back and reminisce upon the innocent youth we desire to have back? Throughout school we are told to act our age but what does that really mean? I had no idea there was a level of maturity that came with a grade level. From a young age, maturity appeared to be the end all goal; those who appeared to be more mature, were superior... not to mention the brownie points you would earn from the teacher. I for one was always "that kid". The one that did exactly as they were told, never spoke out of line, and was ready to grow up. Well, all I have to say is... what the hell was I thinking? 

Senior year is a pivotal point of change and entrance into the adult world. It is the last year to be a child, yet we are conflicted with endless expectations to mature and prepare ourselves for reality. As a child, we were never wrong... no idea was a bad idea, and our imagination flourished without restrictions. But, as we aged, there was only one correct answer... no you can't think out of the box and no you may not be creative. Now that the adult world is so within reach, it does not appear as wondrous as it did when I was young but a cold reality. Strangely enough, I have never felt more immature and foolish than I have in this year of school. I am truly embracing every ounce of my impish nature. Maybe I am doing so because I fear the adult world I will be living in come next August. Or maybe I am currently held to society's ideal standard of what a 17-year-old girl should act like. There is no such thing as "acting your age". These thoughts got me wondering... 

To what degree does our chronological age influence who we are?

Age is just a figment of our own ideals and standards... we are the ones that choose to lose our youthful innocence and our childlike incentives. Throughout this year, I will explore the characteristics of age and the social aspects of maturity in hopes of answering my big question.