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The catcher in the rye summary essay
Catcher in the rye literary devices
Catcher in the rye literary devices
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“Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying.” The American poet Nikki Giovanni reflects on maturity, whether one decides to grow up and become an upstanding, mature adult or to fall into the hateful, corrupt world adulthood seems to be at times. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger explores the topics of depression and the refusal to grow up. He, through the eyes of the 17 year old Holden Caulfield, takes the reader through a three day adventure that had occured the preceding winter. Salinger analyzes a boy facing one of the hardest decisions of his life, whether to grow up and become a “phony” or live in the past. Caulfield suffers a mental break, causing him to reflect on why he cannot accept the many …show more content…
changes in his life as a teenager dreading adulthood. From a medical standpoint, today Caulfield could easily be diagnosed with a form of depression. Throughout the novel, Salinger depicts a boy struggling with severe mental health issues. The hardships he has had to face in life justify, to an extent, his undying need to cling to the past. His inability to mature has also led to many brash and reckless decisions. Initially, Holden has experienced great trauma in his youth: the loss of his brother, Allie, at a young age to leukaemia.
His brother personified youth and innocence, as he passed before the cruel adult world could corrupt him. Holden explains how Allie’s death affects him: “I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it... It was a very stupid thing to do, I'll admit, but I hardly didn't even know I was doing it, and you didn't know Allie” (Salinger 50). Clearly Allie’s death causes much grief for Holden based on his violent reaction to his brother’s demise. As Justin Kestler analyzes via a LitChart exploring The Catcher in The Rye, Holden’s reaction to his brother’s death confuses even himself, as he thinks his parents would be right to have him psychoanalyzed, even though Holden legitimizes his actions by saying “you didn’t know Allie,” from which one can assume their relationship justified his response, which he himself found irrational (Kestler). All of these statements seem to counteract each other, as he keeps stating his actions were both rational and irrational, justified yet manic. He also makes it clear his parents do not care enough about him to try and comfort him themselves, as they would rather send him away to be psychoanalyzed rather than try to support their son emotionally. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this major family trauma puts Holden at great risk of …show more content…
depression (National Institute of Mental Health). Additionally, the NIMH describes many symptoms of clinical depression, some of which Holden clearly presents.
For example, suicidal thoughts or actions are a major indicator of the mental disorder (National Institute of Mental Health). Holden explains his thoughts quite morbidly, stating, “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've done it, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory” (Salinger 136). The pure morbidness of these thoughts show unwellness within Holden, as fantasizing of his death and longing for it makes him a danger to himself. Also, Holden is very pessimistic and has very low self esteem. He believes he does not have enough courage to complete actions he wants to
complete. In conclusion, Holden clearly, at this point in his life, cannot accept the reality of adulthood, causing mental instability. What can now be considered depression evidently presented itself in the young man. Holden’s inability to grow up causes him much pain throughout the novel. Through the character of Holden Caulfield, Salinger shows how difficult the transition to adulthood can be. Though with adulthood should come maturity, sometimes the corruption of the “real world” taints young minds, showing the true loss of innocence that can come with adulthood.
After many years of ideas coming and going, one that seems to stay the same is the thoughts of tennagers. In the book The Catcher In The Rye written by J.D Salinger many can still relate to Holden’s story even after a 76 year difference. While exploring the city around him Holden takes the time to try to find himself on a deeper level and try to grasp how growing up really makes him feel. Given the fact that everyone is unique in among themselves the need for self satisfaction is always current meaning many run from the true responsibilities that come with age.
He definitely suffers from more than five of the symptoms. Holden has said in the book that he hates saying goodbye to people and hates when people leave, which is an example of the first symptoms on the list. Holden is obsessed with Jane Gallagher yet he gets mad at her when she goes out on a date with Stradlater, Holden’s roommate, which is an example of the second symptoms on the list. As a seventeen year old kid, he smokes lots of cigarettes and drinks lots of alcohol, in essence making him a substance abuser, which is the fourth example on the symptoms list. Holden ponders the thought of suicide multiple times throughout the book, like when he was in Central Park and thought about what would happen if he were to die or when he claims that he will volunteer to sit on the top of the atomic bomb if there is another war. These are some examples that fit the criteria of the fifth symptom on the symptoms list. Holden is depressed the entire book and towards the end of the book his depression takes a physical toll on his body as he is nauseous, dizzy, has a headache and eventually passes out. This is an example of the sixth symptom on the symptoms list. Holden is very prone to violence that is overly intense. Some examples of his intensely violent outbreaks in the book are when he breaks all the garage windows the night he learned that his brother, Allie, had died or when Holden gets in a fight with Stradlater when he
There will always be a moment where we all change, but most of us would prefer to hold on to remaining an adolescent. "Catcher in the Rye" written by J.D. Salinger, is a story about a high-school student, Holden, who looks for a reason to change and move on from his depressing page of life. The novel depicts the adventures of Holden as he processes a change. Through Holden's resistance to change, Salinger expresses that people sometimes crave for the past which impacts us negatively, but we would be better off if we learn to move on and find something special.
In J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is seen by some critics a a drop out student destined for failure in life, but I see him as a symbol of an adolescent who struggles to adapt to the reality of adulthood.
Growing up is not easy. The desire to slow down or stop the process is not unusual for adolescents. Resisting adulthood causes those who try to run away from it to eventually come to terms with the reality of life: everyone has to grow up, and fighting against it makes it much harder to accept in the end. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield often tries to resist the process of maturity in an effort to avoid the complicated life he might face as an adult, making him an unusual protagonist for a bildungsroman; this struggle, however, opens Holden’s eyes to the reality and inevitability of growing up, helping him realize that innocence does not last forever.
In his novel Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger portrays childhood and adolescence as times graced by innocence when his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, is faced with the reality of becoming an adult. Holden’s desperation to maintain his innocence and the manner in which he critiques those he deems to have lost theirs, emphasizes his immaturity and ignorance while highlighting the importance the author places on childhood.
The first clear evidence of Holden’s mental illness is his behavior. A loss of decreased effort in school is significant evidence. In the beginning of the novel, Holden mentions how he is failing all but one class because he has a lack of applying himself. He says, “[Pencey] kicked me out. I wasn’t supposed to come back after Christmas vacation, on account of I was flunking four subjects and not applying myself and all,” (Salinger 6). Another common symptom Holden displays is his loss of interest or enjoyment in all activities. When his kid sister Phoebe asks him about what he likes, she claims, “‘You don’t [like anything]. Name one thing.’ The trouble was, I couldn’t concentrate too hot. Sometimes
In Catcher in the Rye, Holden is shown as a character who can’t seem to make up his mind about anything. He lies, he never acts his age, and he does not talk about his emotions. It is difficult to trust a person like Holden, and he does not show of as an admirable person. It may have been Allie’s death that changed him, or maybe he has always been like this. Either way, Holden will one day have to wake up from his depressive state and get the help that he needs to become a happy and fully functional human
In the modern world, everyone must make the transition, no matter how scary or daunting it may be, into adulthood at some point in their lives. Most individuals are gradually exposed to more mature concepts, and over time, they begin to accept that they can no longer posses the blissful ignorance that they once had as a child. Others, however, are violently thrown from their otherwise pure and uncorrupted adolescent lives through a traumatic event that hurls them into adulthood before they are ready. The novel The Catcher on the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, explores the struggle children face to adapt to adult society through the main character Holden Caulfield, a teen that lost his innocence, and is still attempting to cope with the fact that everyone grows up.
It takes many experiences in order for an immature child to become a responsible, well-rounded adult. In J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger’s main character Holden Caulfield matures throughout the course of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Holden is a juvenile young man. However, through his experiences, Holden is able to learn, and is finally able to become somewhat mature by the end of the novel. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s story represents a coming of age for all young adults.
Growing up and becoming mature can be an intimidating experience; it is difficult to let go of one’s childhood and embrace the adult world. For some people, this transition from youthfulness to maturity can be much more difficult than for others. These people often try to hold on to their childhood as long as they can. Unfortunately, life is not so simple. One cannot spend their entire life running from the responsibilities and hardships of adulthood because they will eventually have to accept the fact that they have a role in society that they must fulfill as a responsible, mature individual. The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger follows the endeavours of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who faces a point in his life where he must make the transition from childhood to adulthood. In an attempt to retain his own childhood, he begins hoping to stop other young children from growing up and losing their innocence as well. As indicated by the title, “The Catcher in the Rye” is a book that explores a theme involving the preservation of innocence, especially of children. It is a story about a boy who is far too hesitant to grow up, and feels the need to ensure that no one else around him has to grow up either. His own fear of maturity and growing up is what leads to Holden’s desire to become a “catcher in the rye” so he can save innocent children from becoming part of the “phoniness” of the adult world.
There is one event that unites all human beings. This event is the process of growing up and becoming an adult. The transition into adulthood from childhood can be very long and confusing. As a kid most of them can not wait to become an adult but once you experience adulthood you miss your childhood. The novel Catcher in the Rye shows how a teenager on the break of entering adulthood can get scared. Through the main protagonist Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger captures the confusion of a teenager when faced with the challenge of adapting to an adult society. Holden is faced with many problems as some teens
The parents of Holden play a significant role pertaining to his mental state. When Holden was just thirteen, Allie passed. According to Mayo Clinic “you’re more likely to develop PTSD if you're lacking a good support system of family and friends”. That was exactly the case for Holden. His parents were going through great grieving themselves and neglected their child in a time of need. That resulted in Holden not getting the support and attention necessary for him to fully grow mentally. Holden mentions his mom's position a few times, saying she “still isn’t over my brother Allie yet” (Salinger
As the study states: “...findings revealed that social isolation was associated with an increased risk for depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, and low self-esteem.” (Hall-Lande et.al, 265). There are countless moments showing his isolation and poor mental health in the novel. Of the many examples of Holden being depressed, one happened when he went to the dorm room of his neighbor, Ackley, whom he dislikes. After talking to Ackley, as he says: “I went over and laid down on Ely’s bed. Boy, did I feel rotten. I felt so damn lonesome.” (Salinger, 48). Holden hates Ackley, he hates Pencey, he practically hates everyone, making him socially isolated and lonely even though he was in the same room as Ackley, and gets depressed because of such loneliness. Another example is his random mention of committing suicide just after getting robbed of five dollars by Maurice and Sunny, as he says “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.” (Salinger, 104). He displays the symptoms enough to make it obvious that he clearly has mental health issues which stem from his relationship with
When beginning the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the reader finds out that the narrator, Holden, is telling his story from a rest home or a home for the mentally unstable. This gives the reader an insight to what state he is in mentally. Throughout the rest of the story, Holden explains his past and gives the reader more information on his personality. The reader learns that Holden had a little brother named Allie, who died of leukemia just three years before the story is told. Holden’s only fond memories are the ones of his younger brother, and he mentions that he had a nervous breakdown the night of Allie’s death and had to be psychoanalyzed. He explains, “I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it” (Salinger 39). This proves that the death of Holden’s younger brother has affected him deeply and altered