Youth

"Youth" by Leo Tolstoy is a story told from the point of view of a young person, remembering the time when he went from being a child to a young man. The book looks closely at what the main character thinks about being good, becoming a better person, and all the excitement and confusion that comes with being young. A big part of the story is how he gets along with his friends and family, especially his wise friend Dimitri, who makes him want to be virtuous and think deeply about what he wants to do with his life. As the story starts, the main character remembers the beginning of his youth as the sixteen year old wrestles with feeling not good enough and very aware of himself. His education and the exciting feelings of spring, which make him dream of improving and going on adventures, influence him. The beginning of the story also presents the important people in his life, while he considers how he looks, what he thinks, and his goals to become a better version of himself. He often switches between thinking about big ideas, like helping people, and the boring parts of his everyday life, which makes him daydream. This beginning creates a setting for his difficulties with morality and marks the start of his journey to adulthood, as he deals with the difficulties of being young and finding himself.