Benjamin’s desire to go off to war starkly contrasts with the quiet life he used to lead when he had an old man’s body and mind. It’s quite clear that his entire personality has changed, as he now yearns for dangerous thrills. In this way, he has come to embody the stereotypical identity of an active, eager young man, and this demonstrates the impact that his various developmental stages have on his entire way of being. Each phase in his development brings about a new transformation, suggesting that different seasons of life have a profound impact on identity. On another note, the fact that a brass band greets Benjamin when he comes home calls attention to how much society has embraced him, now that the scandal surrounding his marriage to Hildegarde has died down.