Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And Into The Wild

Being ostracized from society and attempting to fit in again is not uncommon. Many people have this happen to them in their teen years. However, already being accepted into society, only to ostracize oneself is something completely different. This is the difference between Holden Caulfield, from “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, and Chris McCandless, the american Hiker who traveled western U.S., and was immortalized in the movie “Into the Wild.” Both characters, along the path to their goals, encounter figures who act in a multitude of ways, encouraging, harming, or just talking to the protagonists. The lives and adventures of both characters are greatly affected by their families and those who they meet on their journey towards identity

and acceptance.
Both protagonists meet people who better them and support them during their journeys. Though they are minor characters, the nuns who Holden meets during his time in New York are some of the only characters who don’t see the bad in Holden, and appreciate Holden for his thoughts and “generosity.” Night after night, Holden is turned down, insulted, and physically harmed by those who he meets. The nuns, however, are the first characters in the novel to not become even the slightest bit of irritated with Holden. The two nuns are minor characters, only featuring in one scene, involving Holden eating breakfast. Though small, their appearance makes an impact on Holden, so much so that during a scene with Holden’s sister and him, “Those two nuns I saw at breakfast..” (Salinger 99) and another boy were the only things that Holden was able to think of that he likes. Another character who supports Holden is his past teacher, Mr. Antolini. During a time of crisis, when Holden is aware that he cannot go home yet, and he does not have many people to talk to, Holden meets with Mr. A and has an enlightening discussion. Though he does not take it to heart and barely stays awake through it, Mr. A acknowledges Holden’s pain and attempts to help him through it. By sitting Holden down, offering a bed to sleep in, and words of encouragement, Mr. Antolini remains one of the few characters in “Catcher in the Rye” to support Holden in his efforts, and helps him get his life back on track. Though not his teacher, Chris McCandless finds solace in three different characters on his journey to Alaska. Jan and Rainey, a couple of hippies who provide room and board for Chris on multiple occasions, are two characters who fully encourage Chris in his pursuit of abandonment. Most people discourage Chris, telling him to go back home, that he is a loved child and that his actions are unfair to his family. Not Jan and Rainey though, both help Chris by bringing him closer to Alaska, giving him a place to stay, and giving Chris advice on life in general. Another person who gives Chris help is Ron Franz, the veteran that gives Chris a final place to stay before embarking on his “Great Alaskan Adventure.” By being the father that Chris never had, Franz allows Chris to feel loved again, like he belongs somewhere one more time before going into the wild. Franz gives Chris advice, such as “When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines on you,” allowing Chris to realize part of the error in his ways, and forgiving his parents, or more specifically his father, for robbing Chris of his own identity, and treating others so poorly.
Not all of the people that the main characters meet support them, however. As mentioned previously, most of the characters that Holden meets either insult him, hurt him emotionally, or even harm his physically. One such party is a duo of prostitute and hustler, named Sunny and Maurice respectively. Holden is offered a deal that would make him seem weak if refused, and when the prostitute finally arrives, all that happens is a conversations between Holden and Sunny. This ends with Sunny calling Holden a “Crumb-bum” and leaving, only later to return, Maurice in tow, to continue the altercation. Both characters pressure Holden to give them another five dollars, and only when Sunny takes the money from Holden’s wallet, accompanied by Maurice punching Holden in the stomach, do they leave him alone. These characters damage Holden physically, but emotional pain comes from Holden’s old teacher, Mr. Antolini. As mentioned, Holden trusts Mr. A, and has a civilized conversation with him, talking about Holden’s past, present, and what he should consider to do in the future. Later, however, Holden wakes up to find Mr. A “...sitting on the floor right next to the couch...petting me or patting [Holden] on the goddamn head” (Salinger 112). The one person who Holden thought understood him, and who he considered to be his friend, makes a homosexual advance towards him. There are not many characters who harm Chris. One such is the man on the train that Chris is a stowaway on. When Chris believes himself to be safe, the door to his traincar is opened and Chris is ripped out. Beaten by an older man who still remains unknown, Chris is left with blood in his mouth on the ground before getting back up and going to Slab City to meet his old friends Jan and Rainey. Another character who beats down Chris and stops Chris from achieving his goal is God. Chris interprets nature and the beauty it holds as god, and it is the same nature that kills Chris in Alaska. “God” takes Chris’ food supply, in the form of the moose he killed, away from him. “God” makes crossing the river impossible for Chris, stopping him from returning to civilization once his one hundred day goal is complete. Lastly, “God” poisons Chris and leaves him to die in the Alaskan Wilderness, inside the bus, alone.
Both characters have rough relationships with their families, and ironically, the people whom a reader would assume would help the protagonists, do not do much.

Holden does not have a very stable relationship with his parents, or his older brother. His parents wish for him to go to school and earn a future for himself but instead, Holden flunks out of any school he attends either to rebel against his parents or because he does not have the drive to do anything for himself. He also believes that his brother is a phony, selling out to Hollywood instead of using his talents as a writer for “better purposes.” Holden does like two of his family members, however. Holden loves his brother, Allie, and despite the fact that Allie is dead, Holden still loves Allie dearly and refuses to include the characteristic of “dead” when describing his brother. Holden’s other younger sibling, Phoebe, is the only other family member that Holden likes, calling her a good kid and insisting “You’d like her” (Salinger 39) to the reader. Only when Holden is face to face with her and talking does he get frustrated, but every other description of Phoebe is positive. Similar to Holden, Chris only seems to like his sister. Throughout the scenes of Chris being alone, he recounts times of quarrel between his parents. Many flashbacks also reveal that he has not completely forgiven his father of both having an affair with Chris’ mother, or treating her poorly even after his father divorced his first wife. His sister is the only one in the family who knew about Chris’ plan before he put it into action. Both characters have unstable relationships with their parents, as well as only liking their younger

sisters.
Holden and Chris set out on adventures for different reasons; Holden because he wishes to go home, hoping to impress and come off as less of an outcast to those around him in the process, and Chris because he despises society and wants to be alone for some time. Chris and Holden both meet characters who support their efforts, both meeting a party of two who impact them for some time in the future, and a father figure, who acts more of a father and beacon of hope than their genetic fathers do. Holden and Chris both run into people who harm them during the pursuit of their goals, such as Sunny, Maurice, and Mr. Antolini for Holden, and the owner of a train, and even “god” or more accurately nature itself for Chris McCandless. Lastly, both main characters harbor some form of dislike for their parents, while also caring about their younger sisters.