Catcher In The Rye Theme Analysis

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The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger has many different possibilities when discussing possibilities for theme. Salinger focuses heavily on innocence in this novel this leading us to the theme loss of innocence. The Catcher in the Rye is a bildungsroman and Holden Caulfield is a teenager looking for his identity therefore we can conclude that searching for identity could be a theme in this story. Holden has suffered a death already and it has affected him greatly coping with death is another possible theme for this story. Salinger left many possible themes for this story.
Innocence is the most important thing to Holden he learns the majority of his lessons by either seeing someone lose their innocence or losing it himself permitting it …show more content…

Because coping with the death of his brother is the motivation behind Holden 's behavior throughout the entire novel it is considered a possible theme for the story. Holden reacts violently to the news of allie’s death initially but as Allies death becomes more distant Holden is more thoughtful about remembering Allie. The night Holden hears the news he broke all of the windows in the garage “ I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddamn windows with my fist, just for the hell of it”(PAGE 44). After time has past from Allie’s death Holden is not quite as violent he is more curious about Allie hence his obsession with the ducks and where they go in the winter. Holden also prays to Allie “Allie don’t let me disappear”(PAGE 218) Holden is changing his ways of coping throughout the entire story. Holden is not alone in his outbursts about Allie, Holden 's family dynamic crumbles after Allie dies. Holden describes his family in chapter seventeen saying his mother “Hasn’t felt too healthy since my brother Allie died. She’s very nervous.” (PAGE 120) implying his mother had a nervous breakdown. His father and D.B. both immerse themselves in work to prevent thinking too hard about Allie 's death. Holden’s family was not the same after Allie’s death and this turns the Caulfield family upside down. Holden sees that his brother has died and is mad at him but also thinks about suicide and pretends to be dying after he fights because if he is dead he is also closer to Allie. In chapter twenty and chapter six alike Holden had a physical confrontation and pretended to be shot when he was alone in his room. Holden fantasies about death trying to be closer to Ally. The way all of the characters cope with Holden’s death bring up all of the major ideas in the story thus being a possible theme for The Catcher in

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