The human life course is examined so as to clarify the nature and meaning of age to members of different social classes at different periods of their lives. The author utilizes a developmental framework: life is made up of interlinked role sequences involving cumulative learning. Each stage builds on the previous one. Within this framework, the role possibilities and expectations for individuals at different ages are considered. Some, such as school age, have been codified in law. Others are based on normal maturation in children (e.g., the age for walking). Still others are derived from the nature of the economy and social organization (such as the "marrying" age). Some of the problems resulting from age stratification are pointed up. For example, failure to meet certain age-bound expectations can cause problems at a later age. Also, some age expectations are met more easily by members of one social class than by members of another. (TL)