An Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher s The Rye

There are many unexpected changes between childhood and adolescence; one is affected by bodily changes, along with people they know changing around them. Hormones and emotions become uncontrollable, increasing levels of stress and fear during these particular stages of development. The transition between childhood innocence and the brutality of adulthood is long and confusing, often resulting in a loss of self identity. Children tend to look towards the future with great anticipation; whereas many adults tend to constantly reminisce about their childhoods. As a child, the thought is that growing up cannot come soon enough; one cannot appreciate the blissful innocence of childhood until it has passed. The novel, The Catcher in the Rye,†¦show more content†¦The carousel, for example, makes Holden happy, going around and around in circles, but never really getting anywhere. In this way, Holden preserves his own childhood as well as Phoebe’s by rejecting the pressures of the adult world in favour of the joys of childhood. Holden admires the carousel because the surrounding environment and emotional happiness associated with this childhood ride never changes. As Holden watches and admires his sister, he reminisces on his own personal experiences, â€Å"It was playing ‘Oh Marie!’ It played that same song about fifty years ago when I was a little kid.† (210). Holden seems to appreciate the familiarity of the carousel and the surprise of an unchanged childhood memory. In this sense, Holden uses Phoebe to reflect upon his own loss of innocence, using this moment to avoid the adult society he must eventually become a part of. The title of this novel references the poem by Robert Burns, and the phrase ‘catcher in the rye’ has a very symbolic meaning; as Holden discusses his future, he mentions his ideal job of being ‘the catcher in the rye’. Holden’s motivation to acquire this career is due to the misheard lyrics â€Å"If a body catch a body comin’ through the rye† (173). Children commonly misunderstand lyrics; many continue singing their own version despite knowledge of the words being incorrect. These early realizations of childhood mistakes often act as a shift back into reality and theShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher s The Rye 900 Words   |  4 Pagesstory The Catcher in the Rye the 16-year-old protagonist, Holden Caulfield, experiences a conflict that makes him want to relive his childhood memories. Holden has so much hatred toward the adult world and he thinks adults are very phony and lame. J.D Salinger delves into th e mentality of a boy that hates adult intimacy and sexuality. Holden ends up in a mental institution to recover from his problems and to overcome his fear of adulthood. This novel is set in the early 1950s and Holden is from NewRead MoreAnalysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher Rye 1308 Words   |  6 Pagesscratch, while others perish into the rubble. The same can be said for Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, a teenager that suffers and wallow in his misery behind the scene’s, yet lives a life of luxury and debauchery for all to witness. Psychoanalytical theory operates as a catalyst in analyzing and understanding Holden Caulfield in the narrative of The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is introduced as a defeatist, juvenile youngster that has just failed outRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye 1733 Words   |  7 Pagesthe novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfiel d is faced with multiple â€Å"phonies† that divert him from those he really holds affection for. Throughout the novel Holden shows disgust for certain characters but his ability to build relationships of intimacy are most eminent. Through Allie Caulfield, Holden is able to make a more personal connection. Seeing as how he is now dead, Allie is a savior in the eyes’ of Holden when he is in the time of need. Phoebe Caulfield, Holden’s tenRead MoreMental Analysis on Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger ´s The Catcher in the Rye824 Words   |  4 PagesCorporation) (The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America). J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, provides the narrative of a young adult, Holden Caulfield, who I believe shows many symptoms of several different mental disorders. In this essay, I will be providing examples straight from The Catcher in the Rye that support my theory of Holden Caulfield’s lack of mental stability. Holden Caulfield demonstrates extreme and inconsistent behaviors throughout his narrative, describing manyRead MoreAnalysis Of Characters And Themes Of The Catcher Rye 1537 Words   |  7 Pages Analysis of Characters and Themes in The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 to a wealthy Manhattan family. He grew up in the same social conditions as Holden Caulfield does in The Catcher in the Rye. The last thing Salinger cared about was being a successful student because he was very lazy, without care for his responsibilities and tasks. Salinger flunked out of many prep schools, and his parents sent him to a military academy named Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where he graduatedRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay: Holden - The Misfit Hero2101 Words   |  9 Pagesof The Catcher In The Rye      Ã‚     The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger was published in 1951. A recurring theme in J.D. Salingers stories concerns people who dont fit in with the traditional American Culture. Salingers misfit heroes, unlike the rest of society, are caught in the struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality (1 Wildermuth). In his attempt to create a new and realistic portrayal of the times, Salinger first, effectively creates Holden Caulfield, the mainRead MoreTheme Of The Catcher In The Rye976 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger there are several different themes portrayed that widely relate to current issues of teenagers and adults alike. While reading the novel several different themes were revealed creating a deep and meaningful story line. Three themes viewed within the novel are; the phoniness of the adult world, alienation as a form of self-protection, and the painfulness of growing up. Each of these themes have lar ge significance in character and plot developmentRead MoreCatcher in the Rye4413 Words   |  18 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye â€Å"Is The Catcher in the Rye, as a work of literature still relevant for today’s youth?† Name: Sara Sigurdson Course: English A1 Supervisor: Mr. Peter Steadman Word count: 3851 Candidate number: 00136022 Table of Contents Content Page Number Abstract 3 Introduction 4 The Actual Catcher in the Rye 4 The Sexual Matter 5 The Caulfield Family 6 Narrator and Protagonist 8 Role Model 9 Mr. Antolini 10 Targeted Audience 10 Guidance 12 Read MoreShould Banned Be Banned? A High School Curriculum?1603 Words   |  7 Pagesgruesome, yet extremely realistic portrayal of life. Among the novels that have been banned is The Catcher in The Rye, written by J.D Salinger, which describes the idiosyncratic ideals of sixteen year old mischief-maker, Holden Caulfield, and recounts the days following his suspension from Pencey University. In spite of the repetitive presence of sexual content and references it contains, The Catcher In The Rye should be included in all high school curriculums as it allows students to provoke deeper thoughtRead MoreCatcher in the Rye Word Choice795 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Word Choice in The Catcher in the Rye By Tom Condon Word choice is a crucial element in a well-crafted story. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about a 16-year-old in New York in the 1950s named Holden Caulfield. The book is about his exploration in the world as he suffers from severe mental trauma from his point of view. J.D. Salinger uses word choice for realism, theme, and depth of character to make the story relate to the reader and add dimension. The Catcher in Rye contains many distinct An Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher s The Rye In the story The Catcher in the Rye the 16-year-old protagonist, Holden Caulfield, experiences a conflict that makes him want to relive his childhood memories. Holden has so much hatred toward the adult world and he thinks adults are very phony and lame. J.D Salinger delves into the mentality of a boy that hates adult intimacy and sexuality. Holden ends up in a mental institution to recover from his problems and to overcome his fear of adulthood. This novel is set in the early 1950s and Holden is from New York. Holden is intelligent, but get s a pink slip from school and leaves Pennsylvania. He went to Pencey Prep, a school where high class students went. Knowing that he went to Pencey, this says that Holden is from a wealthy family. His parents sent him away to Pennsylvania and got rid of him from their household. Ever since then, Holden felt alienated and has never had a proper relationship with anyone. The protagonist has trouble keeping his relationships in good shape, whether it is a friend, girlfriend or teacher. Holden s relationships were not sustainable. He always tried to have sexual encounter, but none of them worked out. When Holden is in New York at the hotel he wants a prostitute. He wants to have sexual encounter with this prostitute, Sunny. Even though he’s from a prosperous family, he acts like a moderate boy and hires a prostitute. However, Holden does not want to have sexual intercourse with Sunny. â€Å"I don’t feel very like myself tonight. I’ve had aShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher Rye 1308 Words   |  6 Pagesscratch, while others perish into the rubble. The same can be said for Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, a teenager that suffers and wallow in his misery behind the scene’s, yet lives a life of luxury and debauchery for all to witness. Psychoanalytical theory operates as a catalyst in analyzing and understanding Holden Ca ulfield in the narrative of The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is introduced as a defeatist, juvenile youngster that has just failed outRead MoreAn Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher s The Rye 1941 Words   |  8 Pagesenough; one cannot appreciate the blissful innocence of childhood until it has passed. The novel, The Catcher in the Rye, explores the complex and often incomprehensible transition to adulthood through the experiences of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. J.D. Salinger uses Holden’s character to express the challenges teenagers must overcome in order to adapt and succeed in an adult society. Holden outlines the challenges he is experiencing through this time of development by striving to preserve childhoodRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye 1733 Words   |  7 Pagesthe novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is faced with multiple â€Å"phonies† that divert him from those he really hol ds affection for. Throughout the novel Holden shows disgust for certain characters but his ability to build relationships of intimacy are most eminent. Through Allie Caulfield, Holden is able to make a more personal connection. Seeing as how he is now dead, Allie is a savior in the eyes’ of Holden when he is in the time of need. Phoebe Caulfield, Holden’s tenRead MoreMental Analysis on Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger ´s The Catcher in the Rye824 Words   |  4 PagesCorporation) (The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America). J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, provides the narrative of a young adult, Holden Caulfield, who I believe shows many symptoms of several different mental disorders. In this essay, I will be providing examples straight from The Catcher in the Rye that support my theory of Holden Caulfield’s lack of mental stability. Holden Caulfield demonstrates extreme and inconsistent behaviors throughout his narrative, describing manyRead MoreAnalysis Of Characters And Themes Of The Catcher Rye 1537 Words   |  7 Pages Analysis of Characters and Themes in The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger was born in 1919 to a wealthy Manhattan family. He grew up in the same social conditions as Holden Caulfield does in The Catcher in the Rye. The last thing Salinger cared about was being a successful student because he was very lazy, without care for his responsibilities and tasks. Salinger flunked out of many prep schools, and his parents sent him to a military academy named Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where he graduatedRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay: Holden - The Misfit Hero2101 Words   |  9 Pagesof The Catcher In The Rye      Ã‚     The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger was published in 1951. A recurring theme in J.D. Salingers stories concerns people who dont fit in with the traditional American Culture. Salingers misfit heroes, unlike the rest of society, are caught in the struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality (1 Wildermuth). In his attempt to create a new and realistic portrayal of the times, Salinger first, effectively creates Holden Caulfield, the mainRead MoreTheme Of The Catcher In The Rye976 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger there are several different themes portrayed that widely relate to current issues of teenagers and adults alike. While reading the novel several different themes were revealed creating a deep and meaningful story line. Three themes viewed within the novel are; the phoniness of the adult world, alienation as a form of self-protection, and the painfulness of growing up. Each of these themes have lar ge significance in character and plot developmentRead MoreCatcher in the Rye4413 Words   |  18 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye â€Å"Is The Catcher in the Rye, as a work of literature still relevant for today’s youth?† Name: Sara Sigurdson Course: English A1 Supervisor: Mr. Peter Steadman Word count: 3851 Candidate number: 00136022 Table of Contents Content Page Number Abstract 3 Introduction 4 The Actual Catcher in the Rye 4 The Sexual Matter 5 The Caulfield Family 6 Narrator and Protagonist 8 Role Model 9 Mr. Antolini 10 Targeted Audience 10 Guidance 12 Read MoreShould Banned Be Banned? A High School Curriculum?1603 Words   |  7 Pagesgruesome, yet extremely realistic portrayal of life. Among the novels that have been banned is The Catcher in The Rye, written by J.D Salinger, which describes the idiosyncratic ideals of sixteen year old mischief-maker, Holden Caulfield, and recounts the days following his suspension from Pencey University. In spite of the repetitive presence of sexual content and references it contains, The Catcher In The Rye should be included in all high school curriculums as it allows students to provoke deeper thoughtRead MoreCatcher in the Rye Word Choice795 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Word Choice in The Catcher in the Rye By Tom Condon Word choice is a crucial element in a well-crafted story. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about a 16-year-old in New York in the 1950s named Holden Caulfield. The book is about his exploration in the world as he suffers from severe mental trauma from his point of view. J.D. Salinger uses word choice for realism, theme, and depth of character to make the story relate to the reader and add dimension. The Catcher in Rye contains many distinct