Catcher In The Rye Hero's Journey Analysis

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In the majority of novels, the main character must venture out on a journey. This is not necessarily a literal expedition; instead it is a process by which the hero develops within a situation. This monomyth, as identified by Joseph Campbell, outlines a series of stages that the hero must complete along this quest in order to return home with their, literal or metaphorical, reward. In many ways, a bildungsroman novel displays the hero’s journey of a youthful character who embarks on a quest, through which they mature to adulthood. Some novels, such as Jane Eyre and Great Expectations, fit the paradigm for a hero’s journey quite neatly. The main characters from the two books complete every stage and experience a fairly formulaic journey. Holden Caulfield, however, is quite a bit more complicated, and does not follow the monomyth as neatly. …show more content…

For example, in a stereotypical hero’s journey, the hero will, after receiving the call to adventure, momentarily refuse it. Eventually, they will accept the quest and continue onwards. Adversely, The Catcher in the Rye is a story about Holden futile attempt to avoid entering the adult world. The quest, in and of itself, is a refusal of the call.
Additionally, in a typical hero’s journey, a mentor figure guides the hero near the beginning of the story and sends them on their way. Holden, comparatively, cannot find a mentor. There are some, such as his teachers, who attempt to guide him, and others to whom Holden reaches out, like the taxi drivers and Luce. However, every individual who could take the position proves themselves to be phony or uncaring. The closest person that Holden has to a mentor his young sister whose guidance encourages him to come home and begin entering

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