Coming of Age in Samoa (1928) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters/People edit see section history

• Lola: a girl who deviated in a "downward" manner (a "bad girl"). Intelligent, enthusiastic, quarrelsome, insubordinate, impertinent. Shirked her work, mocked her mother, fought with her sisters. Expelled from pastors school after being sent because of how "unmanageable' she was. After several misadventures she ends back home a "delinquent" in her own society.
• Lita: a girl who deviated from the normal by having ambitions, working hard, and wanting to become a nurse or teacher away from her home village.
• Luna: Add a description of this character.
• Timu
• Malae
• Sona: a girl who deviated from the norms. preferred school, was even ambitious at it although she wasn't very bright, because she didn't want the normal responsibilities of a girl in Samoan society.
• Mary
• Moana
• Sisi
• Sami
• Ana: a girl who deviated from the norms. because of a rare family situation and the constant gloomy forebodings of an aunt, she believed herself very weak and incapable of normal life (like child bearing) so she clung to the pastors more peaceful household and gave up dancing
• Mala: a girl who deviated in a "downward" manner (a "bad girl"). treacherous, insinuating, branded as a thief, and possibly worst of all, she played with boys.
• Sala: a girl who deviated in a "downward" manner (a "bad girl"). inept, stupid, underhanded, deceitful, and could not seem to gain any mechanical skills. thrown out of pastors household for sexual offences and from then on was openly hostile towards pastor. her society's attitude towards her was more contempt than antagonism because of her weakness (stupidity)
• Siva: Lola's younger sister who looked like she had the makings to become a girl who deviated in a "downward" manner (a "bad girl"). She was obstinate, started fights, and obviously craved affection. Her one hope for salvation, which her sister did not have, was her humour and lightness.

Quotes edit see section history

• “...a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.”

  Margaret Mead in Introduction

• “The anthropologist, as he pondered his growing body of material upon the customs of primitive people, grew to realise the tremendous role played in an individual's life by the social environment in which each is born and reared.”

  Margaret Mead in Introduction

• “Anger in the heart of a relative, especially in that of a sister, is most potent in producing evil”

  Margaret Mead in Chapter IX

• “...much of what we ascribe to human nature is no more than a reaction to the restraints put upon us by our civilisation.”

  Franz Boas in his 1928 Foreword

• “stupidity was her salvation”

  Margaret Mead in Chapter XI

• ““the child of the future must have an open mind…. The children must be taught how to think, not what to think…. They must be taught tolerance…””

  Margaret Mead in Chapter XIV

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• aiga: used roughly for all relationships by blood, marriage, and adoption
• tei: a younger relative
• taupo: a ceremonial princess of the village
• Laititi a'u: I am but young
• Laititi a'u. Fia siva.: For I am young and like to Dance.
• papalagi: foreign
• lotu le aga: a bad heart

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Margaret Mead (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Franz Boas (Foreword)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: DU813.M4
• Dewey: 306.099613

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Nonfiction › Social Sciences › Anthropology
• Books › Nonfiction › Social Sciences › Customs & Traditions
• Books › Parenting & Families › Parenting
• Books › Nonfiction › Social Sciences › Gender Studies
• Books › Nonfiction › Women's Studies
• Books › Nonfiction › Social Sciences

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history