Discussions concerning adolescence, are always about the books; the character’s adolescence and coming of age. What about the authors? The author’s coming of age is left out of the discussion, unless it has a significant effect on the narrative. The topic switches when the writers are young. Working in Lowell Massachusetts, established a new role in the literary field and in talks of literature. The power to establish and control was a characteristic of the writers and the young girls.
In the exert “Evening Before Pay-Day” Dorcas, Elizabeth and Rosina are discussing their plan for their paychecks. The future of the money is in their hands, not their fathers (a new phenomenon in society of the 19th century). There’s no liminality to their choices. The writing shows the ability the girls of Lowell have to create their own choices. The girls know that they can “spend all of your money in dress” or “Get a new bank book”. (The parallel debate of 21st century adolescent is a trip to California or a college semester.) Financial independence is a part of life that many adolescents waits for, alongside responsibility and authority.
One of the most satisfying aspects of being editor is the ability to control what is published and what isn’t. The power of editing was a role, prior to the Industrial Revolution, out of reach for women. Women couldn’t control the money; they couldn’t control what their family or husbands said, and they couldn’t control what was on the dinner table because it all depended on what the market had. The Lowell Offering was a revolution: the magazines were written by and controlled by young girls. They decided what aspects of their factory life and experiences would be published.
Machinery and industrial technology represent control. Inside the factories, adolescent girls could be in control of the amount of product produced per day. The work done inside was dangerous too. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the best product a woman could give the world was a well-born child. Now, they are creating a novel space of life; a space where kids are stuck between childhood and having a dependent. The writers of The Lowell Offering were young girls, ranging from the ages of 15-18. The girls develop and control the creation of the idea that there’s a in between era of life. It is the era of exploration and experience. The Lowell Offering is filled with explorational themes and topics. One topic discussed in the magazine that set the stage for how young people react to the idea of depression and suicide.
In the magazine, there no wrath brought down upon the subjects. In society today and in decades past, the youngest generations stand in the middle. Uncle C, is described as dying under a dark cloud, no mention of madness. The choose of words of these young writers controlled the future of the perceptions of mental health. It is commonly thought of as an uncontrollable being, like a cloud.
Factory towns had it all, and offered a lot to the textile workers. In the article The Spirit of Discontent, the author writes about what the town offers: “Every evening school which offers itself for our improvement”. The girls decide to attend or they choose to control their education. This factor establishes an aspect of the new era of life, adolescence. The writers, by mentioning this novel era, control what becomes part of it, including the debate of education v work. A conflict that varies from person to person. Authorities have power in the conversation, but the control lever is in the hand of the adolescent.
An overall theme of the discussion of adolescence can be described like baking a treat. Like bread, adolescence rises and bubbles. Not every baked good is going to contain the same ingredients, but are there ingredients that are commonly used. For many adolescences it’s stepping into leadership, control and independence. In The Lowell Offering, the girls are showing financial independence and independence of mind. Lucy Larcom, the magazine’s editor, was leading a group of young girls and created a product. They found a way to get their work published. In the fires of adolescence stepping into a leadership position is common. They’re prepping themselves for the world.
The writings in The Lowell Offering carve and controlled the aspects of life associated with adolescence in the 1840s, decades before this era of life was granted a name.
References:
Esiler, Benita. The Lowell Offering: Writings by New England Mill Women.
Representing Adolescence @ Pitt 