Coming of age in the WW/are Fred and George really adults?

[sophierom]

No: HPFGUIDX 86896

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> As an American, I find coming of age at seventeen a strange
> phenomenon.In Arizona, kids can drive at sixteen and vote at 
eighteen but can't legally drink alcoholic beverages until twenty-
one. I don't know what the age for acquiring a business license is, 
but it certainly isn't seventeen> <snip> <Granted, the twins will 
turn eighteen in April of the year the next book opens, but to me 
that still seems very young for such a responsibility (especially 
given the mischievous personalities of Fred and George).>

Sophierom:

I also find seventeen early for coming of age (and I'm also 
American, so I can't address this from an English point of view).  
Voting, drinking, and driving laws in the u.s. make a difference (as 
Carol rightly pointed out), but I also think the growth in post-
secondary education makes our world quite different from the WW. 
While going off to college is by no means universal in the states, 
certainly a large percentage of young Americans now go on to get 
some sort of post-secondary education (66% of 18 and 19 year olds 
are attending a school of some sort, according to the 2000 census), 
and this continuation of schooling seems to delay young people's 
complete independence from parents in many cases. 

The lack of wizarding colleges (at least, as far as I know there 
aren't any wizarding universities ... am I wrong about this?) seems 
to necessitate an earlier age of independence for wizards. It 
appears that young wizards go directly into the workforce, or, if 
they have some post-Hogwarts training, they are in more of an 
apprenticeship/internship situation than a formal educational 
institute.  


Carol:
>Carol, who does not consider the Weasley twins to be adults in any
> way, shape, or form>


Sophierom:

Actually, I do consider the Weasley twins to be adults.  Sure, 
they're mischevious, but they also have some very good "adult" 
traits: 1.) the ability to make their dreams a reality(setting up 
the joke shop); 2.) their ability and willingness to live on their 
own (sure, everyone wanted to escape Umbridge and her awful ways, 
but only Fred and George actually formulated a plan and were willing 
to leave their "comfort" zone ... no matter how uncomfortable 
Umbridge made it, Hogwarts still gave students a bed to sleep in, 
food to eat, a roof over their heads, etc.); and 3.) unlike Percy 
(who may have seemed the most "mature" of the younger Weasley 
children), Fred and George have the confidence to leave their 
parents' nest, not out of spite or anger, but out of a desire to 
make their own mark on the world.  

As much as Percy might have ambition and drive, he remained under 
his parents' wings until their falling out.  Not only did Percy live 
with his parents, but he also continued to hide behind his mother's 
protection anytime Ron, Fred, or George made fun of him.  Percy only 
stakes out his independence because he feels forced to do so.  The 
twins, however, have been planning the joke shop for a long time, 
and although Mrs. Weasley may disagree with it, I doubt that they'll 
have a serious falling out like Percy had with his parents.  Fred 
and George, I believe,  will still be able to maintain a civil 
relationship with their parents, despite their disagreements.   

Naturally, I could be completely wrong about this. And I cannot deny 
that Fred and George act childisly at times.  But I do think that 
the twins are admirable characters who, if they are not already, 
will go on to be successful adults.  

Thanks for the great topic, Carol!(and sorry for snipping many good 
parts out of your post)

Sophierom