The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

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Nostalgia can be considered an invertible feeling that everyone will experience at one point in their life. The definition of nostalgia is “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations”. The Catcher in the Rye contains characters which follow the definition of nostalgia, to the point where it will affect their outcome in life, causing nostalgia to become an egregious trait. Everyone who overly desire or reliant on nostalgia can not be successful in life.
The Catcher in the Rye begins with stating “the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born...but I don't feel like going into it...”(Salinger 6). This statement denies the inclusion of any nostalgic memories. The verbal irony lies in the fact that near the end of the book, the character Holden Caulfield, being the source of all nostalgia in the novel, is rejecting all chances that nostalgia can be found, before said nostalgia is introduced. Caulfield's nostalgic memories relate to significant characters such as Phoebe Caulfield. Phoebe is Holden's younger sister whom he spent much of his childhood with. As the time to meeting Phoebe comes close, Holden reveals more events that he has experienced with Phoebe. Holden's memories of Phoebe and his actions that led him towards going back to meet Phoebe are actions which withhold him from becoming his definition of successful.
Holden's unique definition of success can be contemplated due to the actions that he chooses to take and the negative consequences of these decisions and how they affect him. Initially, Holden was going to a prestigious school with several opportunities to live a successful life although, his choice to fail all his c...

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...s the said “American Dream” impossible, although the teen does not acknowledge that it is impracticable. This lack of acknowledgment is not intentional, it is a misconception that they are led to believe due to the expectations set by society. Unavoidably the teens definition of success, given to said teen by a phony society, is a failure. When ones “American Dream” turns in a failing direction, and there is nothing ahead excluding debt and failure, nostalgia is a “backup pillow”, in which the adolescent would use to comfort themselves. Holden uses the individuals which are not defined as “phony” as a fallback, which Phoebe is one of. Contemporary adolescents and Holden are cohesive in this matter due to the fact that not all know what their personal definition of success will be, although all know what to fall towards if their success plan is inadequately executed.

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