Coming of Age

Throughout her novel, I Must Betray You, Sepetys thematically examines coming-of-age through her character Cristian. Toward the outset of the narrative, the author illustrates the dichotomy between Cristian and Dan Van Dorn’s social interactions to highlight the effects of political culture on coming-of-age. While Dan and Cristian are both on the cusp of turning eighteen, the teenagers interact with others and themselves in divergent manners. As they walk through Rosetti Square together, Cristian notes Dan’s “general ease in all things. He [swings] his arms, casually looking about, speaking louder than most Romanians would” (105). Conversely, the narrator is timid and afraid to express his emotions or thoughts in public. Growing up under the communist regime limits Cristian’s ability to experiment with his identity, building independence, and practice autonomy, standard rites of passage when coming-of-age. The oppressive political system within Romania effects not...