Adults, light-years away from this, rolled their eyes and smirked and said, "this too shall pass" - as if adolescence was a disease like chicken pox, something everyone recalled as a mild nuisance, completely forgetting how painful it had been at the time.
In "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult, the adult perspective often trivializes the adolescent experience, viewing it as a phase that will eventually fade. Adults express this with dismissive remarks like, "this too shall pass," implying that the struggles of youth are merely temporary inconveniences, much like a mild illness. This perspective highlights a disconnect between the experiences of adults and the profound challenges faced by teenagers.
The quote underscores how adults tend to forget the intensity of their own adolescent struggles, reducing them to mere nostalgic memories. By comparing adolescence to chicken pox, the author suggests that adults fail to appreciate the real pain and emotional turmoil young people endure during this tumultuous period. The sentiment reflects a broader theme of misunderstanding and the need for greater empathy toward the crises that define youth.
