Maturation

From reading the plays How I Learned to Drive and The Mineola Twins, Paula Vogel shows different characters, like Lil’ Bit and Myrna, growing up. In How I Learned to Drive, Lil’ Bit shows her process of maturation through different scenes including being behind the wheel of her uncle’s car and through conversations in the kitchen with her mother. When Lil’ Bit is alone with her uncle, she tries to feel in control of the situations at all times. This control is a result of Uncle Peck's refusal to use his strength to take over Lil' Bit. Although Uncle Peck could dominate any situation, he lets Lil’ Bit feel like he can wait however long she wants, to do whatever she wants with him. This control gives Lil’ Bit a feel for a mature relationship, even though the relationship is completely absurd. Also, when Lil’ Bit speaks with the women of the family about feminine topics and sex, she feels that she is somewhat able to have input. This gives her a sense of maturity. 

Lil’ Bit’s maturation process is mainly undergone sexually, but Myrna can relate as well. Myrna from The Mineola Twins is somewhat opposite to Lil’ Bit in that she feels that she matures as she resists sexual urges. When she is having intimate relations with Jim she has the perfect moment to de-virginalize herself but instead she strongly resists. I think that she feels that this power to say no makes her stronger. As Myrna grows up she finds that this resistance only made her a "better" person in the end.

From Paula Vogel's Award Winning plays, a maturing process is expressed through two young women. Lil' Bit and Myrna, although opposite, still show very similar ways at going through with the maturing process. They both deal with growing up through intimate situations just in different ways.