Similarities Between The Awakening And Catcher In The Rye

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Idenity is something that people must find for themselves without society telling them what it should be. However, there are many instances where society predetermines who people are. In Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and The Awakening by Kate Chopin, society plays a key role in determining the identity of the main characters by placing high expectations on them which causes the main characters to isolate themselves from society. Isolation is a common theme that is present in both novels. In The Awakening, after Mrs. Pontellier accepts Robert's invitation to go to the beach, the author writes, "In short, [she] was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to …show more content…

I'm sorry I told so many people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about.(...) It's funny. Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. (Salinger 275). Holden isolates himself by calling people "phonies." In this way, he does not have to deal with the pain of missing them, however, he confesses that he does not like to be alone. In reality, Holden wants to be part of something that is lasting instead of …show more content…

Pontellier did not fit into the Creole women society because they would have given up anything for their children and husbands, including themselves, which she was not prepared to do. Edna ultimately commits suicide because she realizes that she will never be able to give up her "essential" part which is her inner identity. Similar to Mrs. Pontellier, Holden is also in search of his identity. After Holden sneaks into his house, he tells his sister, Pheobe, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around – nobody big, I mean – except me. (...) What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff. (...) That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy. (Salinger 224) Holden searches for his identity throughout his travels in New York. He comes to realize that he does not fit into the adult world which is why he makes references to his childhood often. Instead of describing his dream job as a lawyer or Doctor he describes a profession of his imaginiation, as if he were a child. Holden's desire to hold onto his childhood may be the reason he enjoys going back to the museum where history is permanent. Holden explains, "“The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. (...) Nobody'd be different.

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