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The catcher and the rye novel essay
Deeper meaning behind the catcher in the rye
Catcher in the rye analysis
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Catcher in the Rye
Catcher in the Rye: A Coming of Age Tale
This novel explores many themes that are commonly felt by teenagers.
Salinger’s novel discusses Holden’s stand against phoniness. Another major
theme running through the novel is self-loathing, and while it may not be quite
that extreme in all cases, most teenagers go through the “awkward” stage.
Loneliness is also expressed in the novel. Every teenager goes through a time
were they feel like they’re alienated. In a lot of ways, Holden also literally wants
to be the catcher in the rye. These are just some of the themes that run through
this novel. Jerome David Salinger only wrote one novel, Catcher in the Rye. It
was published in 1951. It was called a genuine American tale and greatly
praised. After this success, Salinger went into seclusion. All he wrote before his
“disappearance” were four novellas and thirty-five short stories. Of these stories
he preserved only nine. J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye displays the typical
teenage alienation and depression.
Salinger’s novel discusses Holden’s stand against phoniness. Holden’s
deep contempt for all things that are phony is expressed throughout the novel.
He even condemns people he doesn’t know as phonies, such as the man that his
wing of the dorms at Pencey is named after, an undertaker named Ossenburger.
“I can just see that big phony bastard asking Jesus to send him more stiffs.”(p.17)
It is evident from the passage that Holden seems to think many people are
phonies, but mostly people who have done better than he has in life who he
doesn’t always know. He especially hates the movies and comic books. “Those ...
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...ive,
but not excessive. The novel is accurately written as an adolescent would write
it. That makes it relatively easy to understand and interpret. It’s easy to see
things from Holden’s perspective. It’s refreshing that he doesn’t fish for
sympathy, he simply tells it like it is. Holden is a real character, created by a man
with a brilliantly flexible imagination. The novel is intended also as a piece of
social criticism. Not just by discussing the overall fakeness of society, but also by
relating it. Fake people don’t change, they’re always there, it’s sort of depressing
when you take a good look at people and realize that. Salinger directly
addresses this point. He also suggests that trusting people leads to inner pain.
The novel ,all in all, is like a sort of guide for teenagers lost in their own
adolescents.
to then during interviews treats them like they are beneath him because he is the man. Bill Maher may
felt inside. It caused Holden to condone something that he was strongly opposed to as a
Thesis statement: The relationship Holden and Blanche have between family and people in society leads them to an inner turmoil, which eventually results in their psychological breakdowns.
Catcher in the Rye is one of the most famous books in American literature. Written by J. D. Salinger, it captures the epitome of adolescence through Salinger’s infamous anti-hero, Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield learns about himself and his negative tendencies, and realizes that if he does not do something to change his perspective, he may end up like his acquaintance James Castle whom he met at Elkton Hills. Holden tries to find help to mend his outlook on life through Mr. Antolini so he does not end up like James, who did not want to face the problems he created for himself. This is proven by the similarities between James Castle and Holden, Mr. Antolini’s willingness to try and help Holden, and Holden’s future being forecasted by James.
In The Catcher in The Rye, by J.D, the main character, Holden, can be seen as a troubled teenager growing up in a less than perfect society. Throughout the novel Holden struggles with the fact that many young and innocent kids will grow up and see the world from a different perspective. He naturally becomes worried for all future generations who will one day grow, as he did, and loose their innocence. The fixation of youth and innocence can be seen in the title of the book, as well as throughout the novel.
Holden Caulfield can be analyzed through his thoughts, actions and circumstances which surround his everyday life. Holden acts like a careless teenager. Holden has been to several prep-schools, all of which he got kicked out of for failing classes. After being kicked out of the latest, Pency Prep, he went off to New York on his own. Holden seems to have a motivation problem which apparently affects his reasoning. The basis of his reasoning comes from his thoughts. Holden thinks the world is full of a bunch of phonies. All his toughs about people he meets are negative. The only good thoughts he has are about his sister Phoebe and his dead brother Alley. Holden, perhaps, wishes that everyone, including himself, should be like his brother and sister. That is to be intelligent, real and loving. Holden’s problem is with his heart. It was broken when his brother died. Now Holden goes around the world as his fake self, wearing his mask. Holden is looking for love, peace and understanding. He is scared to love because he is afraid he might lose it like he did with his brother. That is the reason for Holden's love of the museum, he feels safe because it never changes it always stays the same. Holden is troubled with the pain of death, it effects every aspect of his life causing him to not care about the future, himself or anyone, except Phoebe and Alley.
Holden not only lies to make others feel better, he also respects girls when many guys don‘t. Holden says regarding how men treat girls is, “It stinks if you analyze it. I think if you don’t really like a girl, you shouldn’t horse around with her at all, and if you do like her, then you’re supposed to like her face, and if you like her face, you ought to be careful about doing crumby stuff to it, like squirting water all over it.” Holden doesn’t like it when guys play around with girls they don’t like. The point is that, in his moral code, boys shouldn’t treat girls badly. He has respect for them.
that he is trying to hide his true identity. He does not want people to know who he really is or that he was kicked out of his fourth school. Holden is always using fake names and tries speaking in a tone to persuade someone to think a cretin way. He does this when he talks to women. While he is talking to the psychiatrist he explains peoples reactions to his lies like they really believe him, when it is very possible that he is a horrible liar and they are looking at him with a “what are you talking a bout?” expression. Holden often lies to the point where he is lying to him self.
he comes terms with himself and realizes that the fantasy of being the catcher of the rye
Many of the times that Holden criticizes people, it is something he does himself. (Pg 13) “. one of the reasons I left Elkton was that I was surrounded by phonies.” Holden himself is many times what he refers to as a “phony”. He knows that he lies and pretends to like people that he would rather not be with.
In a novel, the theme is the insight of real life. J.D. Salinger’s initiation novel, The Catcher In The Rye, describes the adventures of 16-year old Holden Caulfield, the protagonist and first person narrator, who refuses to grow up and enter manhood. The most important theme developed by Salinger is Holden’s problem of dealing with change; he has trouble dealing with death, he refuses to accept children’s loss of innocence as a necessary step in the growing-up process, and has difficulties with growing up.
It is believed that Holden is in a state of depression as he feels that he is in fake world and at the time is also feeling for the loss of his brother.
cheerful disregard and that there is nothing wrong with him. He also feels that Holden’s
Firstly, Holden is a phony to himself. He behaves like an adult despite knowing that he is only
Holden wanted to be the catcher in the rye. Holden wanted to catch children before they fell off the cliff and realized how the world really is, the world is disappointing. He wanted to keep children innocent and pure. There are several quotes and examples to support this in Catcher in the Rye like when the kid was singing in the park of Radio City, the school scene, Allie’s death and Holden’s rage over Allie’s death.