Adolescent conversions in works by John Updike, Flannery OConnor and James Baldwin

Adolescence is depicted as a critical period of transformation, where characters David Kern, Francis Marion Tarwater, and John Grimes grapple with social injustice while seeking identity and purpose. Their journeys highlight the inadequacies of societal structures, including family and educational systems, in addressing their emotional and spiritual needs. As they confront their anxieties and search for meaning, they often feel alienated and misunderstood, raising profound questions about self-identity and the challenges of maturation in a complex world.