Isolation In Catcher In The Rye

The Light At The End

Typically, one will feel isolation from those around them, either emotionally or physically, at some point in their lives. One’s feeling of separation can largely impact their quality of life. In J.D. Salinger’s Catcher In The Rye, Holdenś emotional isolation leads to a decreased sense of belonging. In Andrew Niccol’s The Truman Show, this leads to a loss of love. Both characters isolate themselves both physically and mentally, holding them back from reaching happiness through either this sense of belonging or love. By overcoming this detachment, they are each able to achieve freedom from their constraints in order to provide support for those around them.
Holden, by rejecting genuine human interaction with the people

At the carousel he takes her to,, a gold ring game is in place, in which a child can reach for a gold ring, with the risk of falling off their ride. Although Holden worries for Phoebe’s safety while doing so, he accepts that “the thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them.” (Salinger 232). The gold ring on the carousel represents adulthood. Holden connects “grabbing for the gold ring” to the idea of growing up, simultaneously representing adulthood as a game. He realizes the truth that all people must eventually grow up, even if it means losing a sense of innocence. Prior to this, he viewed adults as all being corrupted and phony. The carousel shows him that all children must one day grow up and he must accept it. The word “grabbing” specifically shows a sense of aggressiveness and urgency. The children around him are so eager to be grown ups, causing him to believe he should feel the same as well. The repetition of phrase “fall off” connects back to his initial dream of being a catcher in the rye. His wish is to save kids from growing old and losing innocence, and yet here he acknowledges that may not be possible, and that some may fall over despite his best attempts. In one way Although Phoebe is the one reaching for the gold ring, Holden connects this to his own life. On one hand, he finds himself in a stressful time of not yet wanting to succumb to adulthood, the fear that brings him into isolation in the first place. By facing reality, he realizes that growing up might not be as bad as he believes. On the other hand, he finds himself in this situation as a part in Phoebe's life. Throughout the novel, he searches for a sense of meaning and importance to