More handpicked essays just for you.
J.d. salinger on meaning behind catcher in the rye
Jd salinger catcher in the rye essay
Catcher in the rye comments on society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Understanding Holden Through Language J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a classic American novel set in the 1950s. Throughout the years since the book has been published, critics have both raved about it and criticized its plot. The main character and narrator is Holden Caulfield. He is seventeen and tells his psychoanalyst of his experiences over a three-day period when he was sixteen-years-old. Holden is a troubled teenage boy, who longs to preserve to his innocence. He is caught in the struggle of wanting to remain a child and wanting to do adult things like drinking and having sex. He is sometimes rebellious: he orders alcoholic beverages at bars, even though he is underage. Holden also frequently gets kicked out of the prestigious, …show more content…
expensive private schools that his parents enroll him in. He narrates the novel in a way that fits his character perfectly. The language of the The Catcher in the Rye enables readers to apprehend the genuine, bona fide character of Holden Caulfield. First, readers can understand Holden's character through his language, specifically his rebelliousness. Literary critics, Morteza Yazdanjoo and others, wrote, "The protagonist's idiosyncratic use of language, which represents his supposedly 'rebellious' individuality in a transitory stage of his life, plays a crucial part in delineating his role in the novel." Holden's unique language helps to present his character by showing his rebellious personality. Throughout the novel, Holden never hesitates to curse and give his blatant opinion, even if it is rude. For example, Holden goes to a bar one night when he is feeling lonely. Holden casually explains to the psychiatrist, "Boy, I sat at that goddam bar till around one o'clock or so, getting drunk as a bastard. ... I was careful as hell not to get boisterous or anything" (Salinger 80). In speaking about just one instance, he uses three different curse words! Holden's use of a multitude of explicit words shows his rebelliousness because he is not concerned about any consequences. He never thinks twice about the vulgar phrases he uses, and he repeats them quite often. Also, Holden always gives his honest opinion, which is often not a positive one. Specifically, he tells his psychiatrist of his experience at a lounge called Ernie's by describing the patrons around him: "He was the most boring guy I ever listened to. And you could tell his date wasn't even interested in the goddam game, but she was even funnier-looking than he was, so I guess she had to listen. Real ugly girls have it tough" (Salinger 46). He does not hesitate to rudely say what he thought about the couple, even though it is offensive. Holden's rude comments show his rebelliousness because he does not care what others think of his opinion, regardless of who it may offend. Both his cursing and views show readers that Holden has a rebellious side to him In addition to Holden's rebelliousness, his language also shows readers that he is frustrated and going insane.
Two literary reviewers claimed that the language Holden uses is "both representative of the typical adolescent of his time and place and indicative of his personal fears and frustrations. 'If you really want to hear about it' and 'if you want to know the truth' reflect Holden's despair that most people really do not want to know the truth. 'I don't feel like ... ' demonstrates the emotional paralysis that contributes to Holden's breakdown" (Blackstock and Pilon). The language Holden uses reflects his given situation, fears, and frustrations. Throughout the story, Holden is frustrated, alone, and miserable, and when talking to the psychoanalyst, his language shows that. For example, by saying "if you really want to know the truth ... ,"the audience can infer that what Holden went through was truly scarring because he does not say it immediately up front. Without the aforementioned phrase, readers would not realize how troubled Holden is in sharing his story. For example, Holden confesses his frustrations regarding girls: " ... if you really want to know the truth, when I'm horsing around with a girl, I have a helluva lot of trouble just finding what I'm looking for, for God's sake ... Take this girl that I just missed having sexual intercourse with ... It took me about an hour to just get her goddam brassiere off. By the time I did get it off, she was about ready to spit in my eye" (Salinger 50). He begins by saying "if you really want to know the truth" because he is sexually frustrated. He is hesitant in sharing with his psychoanalyst because he does not want to relive the embarrassing moment when the girl he wanted to potentially had sex with wanted to spit in his face. Furthermore, Holden often uses the phrase "I don't feel like" when he does not want to talk to someone about something that is bothersome to him. The language shows that Holden has
trouble talking to others about sensitive topics. Since many frustrations are building up inside of him because he does not like to share them with others, readers can learn that Holden is very alone and feels helpless. In addition to Blackstock and Pilon's aforementioned claims, they have also stated that, When Holden says "madman," he is expressing his fear of going crazy ... " Holden often refers to himself as a "madman." By addressing himself this way, the readers can see the broken mental state Holden is in at the time, and they learn that he genuinely thinks he is going crazy. For instance, when Holden is on a date with Sally, he asks her to run away with him; she refuses. Holden explains to his psychiatrist, "I don't even know why I started all that stuff with her. I mean about going away somewhere, to Massachusetts and Vermont and all. I probably wouldn't've taken her even if she'd wanted to go with me. She wouldn't have been anybody to go with. The terrible part, though, is that I meant it when I asked her. That's the terrible part. I swear to God I'm a madman" (Salinger 72). Holden truly wanted sally to run away with him when he asked; later, he says he would not have taken her. He realizes that his thoughts are conflicting and calls himself a madman. His quote shows readers that he is fearful of going crazy because he acknowledges he made a "terrible" mistake by asking Sally to join him. Since Holden realizes what he did, he fears that his unstable mind will lead him into other similar situations. By referring to himself as a madman after the incident with Sally, readers know that Holden thinks he is in a bad mental state. Besides Holden's frustration and madness, the audience knows that he is a typical teenage boy through his authentic language. Paul Engle, literary critic, has stated that the novel's language has the realistic sound of a boy's voice without ever seeming to be childish or sounding as if it was written down to that age level. The language used throughout the story is accurate for the teenage narrator: neither too mature, or childish. Holden is a typical adolescent boy. The way he narrates the novel, in his own voice, gives a clear, pure depiction of his view of the plot events. Since Holden speaks in his own authentic voice, readers can fully understand his character. For example, Holden often uses the word "phony" to describe people such as the Headmaster, who make judgements based on appearances. However, Holden does the same exact thing later in the story. He takes an old friend, Sally, on a date, and while on the date, Sally sees a boy she knows. Calling the Headmaster and others phony is immature because he does not realize that he is then "phony," himself because he does the same thing. By misusing the word "phony," Holden is hypocritical, which is a common trait of teenagers. Since Holden calls so many people phony, yet does the same thing, through his language, readers can see that he is still maturing. Although Holden does use this language, he does not speak so childishly for readers to think he is younger than he is. Specifically, Holden's language consists of a variety of sentence structure, decent diction, and proper grammar, proving he is not a younger child. To summarize, the narrator uses language that is neither too improper or sophisticated to show his actual age to the readers. In conclusion, Holden's language allows the audience to comprehend the entirety of his true character. First, it is apparent to readers that Holden is rebellious through the vulgar and blatant language he uses regularly. Moreover, through using specific phrases, the audience clearly apprehends Holden's frustrations and that he is losing his mind. Lastly, the authentic language that Holden uses makes it apparent that he is an average teenage boy because he does not use overly sophisticated or overly basic language. Overall, Holden's phraseology gives a complete comprehension of his character to the audience.
Holden Caulfield, the teenage protagonist of Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, struggles with having to enter the adult world. Holden leaves school early and stays in New York by himself until he is ready to return home. Holden wants to be individual, yet he also wants to fit in and not grow up. The author uses symbolism to represent Holden’s internal struggle.
In the novel, Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is an example of a prosaic rich adolescent boy,with a pedestrian set of problems, but a psychoanalysis reveals that Holden has a plethora of atypical internal conflicts. Internal conflicts that other students at Pencey, such as Stradlater and Ackley, would not normally experience.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is a popular novel that was originally published in the 1950’s. In the book, Salinger explores various themes through the main character Holden and his interactions with others. Some of these themes include, alienation, loss and betrayal. Holden constantly feels betrayed throughout the novel by several people, including his roommate, teacher, and sister.
In J.D. Sallinger's Catcher in the Rye, is based on the sullen life of Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old teen-ager is trying to find his sense of direction. Holden, a growing adult, cannot accept the responsibilities of an adult. Eventually realizing that there is no way to avoid the adult life, he can only but accept this alternative lifestyle. What Holden describes the adult world as a sinful, corrupted life, he avoids it for three important reasons: His hatred towards phonies and liars, unable to accept adult responsibilities, and thirdly to enshrine his childhood youth.
Salinger characterizes Holden as constantly making impulsive decisions when presented with challenges. One example of a situation where Holden makes the wrong decision in an attempt to take the easy way out is when he encounters Sunny, the prostitute. When Holden enters his hotel, and is approached by a pimp named Maurice who asks him if he would like to buy a prostitute for the night, he responds with the brief statement, “Okay” (119). Holden’s one word response explicitly demonstrates his attempt to escape the challenging situation quickly. His lack of words also demonstrates hesitation, because if he were to be fully committed into to purchasing the prostitute, he would ask for more information. After Holden tells Maurice he will buy
Holden Caulfield, portrayed in the J.D. Salinger novel Catcher in the Rye as an adolescent struggling to find his own identity, possesses many characteristics that easily link him to the typical teenager living today. The fact that the book was written many years ago clearly exemplifies the timeless nature of this work. Holden's actions are those that any teenager can clearly relate with. The desire for independence, the sexually related encounters, and the questioning of ones religion are issues that almost all teens have had or will have to deal with in their adolescent years. The novel and its main character's experiences can easily be related to and will forever link Holden with every member of society, because everyone in the world was or will be a teen sometime in their life.
Catcher in the Rye is one of the most famous books in American literature. Written by J. D. Salinger, it captures the epitome of adolescence through Salinger’s infamous anti-hero, Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield learns about himself and his negative tendencies, and realizes that if he does not do something to change his perspective, he may end up like his acquaintance James Castle whom he met at Elkton Hills. Holden tries to find help to mend his outlook on life through Mr. Antolini so he does not end up like James, who did not want to face the problems he created for himself. This is proven by the similarities between James Castle and Holden, Mr. Antolini’s willingness to try and help Holden, and Holden’s future being forecasted by James.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is an enthralling and captivating novel about a boy and his struggle with life. The teenage boy ,Holden, is in turmoil with school, loneliness, and finding his place in the world. The author J.D. Salinger examines the many sides of behavior and moral dilemma of many characters throughout the novel. The author develops three distinct character types for Holden the confused and struggling teenage boy, Ackley, a peculiar boy without many friends, and Phoebe, a funny and kindhearted young girl.
Since its publication in 1951, The Catcher In the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger has served as a conflagration for debate and extreme controversy. Although the novel has been the target of scornful criticism, it has also been the topic of wide discussion. The novel portrays the life of sixteen year old, Holden Caufield. Currently in psychiatric care, Holden recalls what happened to him last Christmas. At the beginning of his story, Holden is a student at Pencey Prep School. Having been expelled for failing four out of his five classes, Holden leaves school and spends 72-hours in New York City before returning home. There, Holden encounters new ideas, people, and experiences. Holden's psychological battle within himself serves as the tool that uncovers the coming-of-age novel's underlying themes of teen angst, depression, and the disingenuous nature of society. The novel tackles issues of blatant profanity, teenage sex, and other erratic behavior. Such issues have supplemented the controversial nature of the book and in turn, have sparked the question of whether or not this book should be banned. The novel, The Catcher In the Rye, should not be banned from inclusion in the literature courses taught at the high school level.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is a coming-of-age novel set in New York during the 1940’s. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the story, is a detached seventeen-year old boy harboring feelings of isolation and disillusionment. He emphasizes a general dislike for society, referring to people as “phonies.” His lack of will to socialize prompts him to find nearly everything depressing. He’s alone most of the time and it’s apparent that he is very reclusive. This often leads him to pondering about his own death and other personal issues that plague him without immediate resolution. Holden possesses a strong deficit of affection – platonic and sexual – that hinders and cripples his views toward people, his attitude, and his ability to progressively solve his problems without inflicting pain on himself. The absence of significant figures in his life revert him to a childlike dependency and initiate his morbid fascination with sexuality. In this novel, Salinger uses Sunny, Sally Hayes, and Carl Luce to incorporate the hardships of discovering sexual identity and how these events affect adolescents as they try to understand their own sexuality.
that he is trying to hide his true identity. He does not want people to know who he really is or that he was kicked out of his fourth school. Holden is always using fake names and tries speaking in a tone to persuade someone to think a cretin way. He does this when he talks to women. While he is talking to the psychiatrist he explains peoples reactions to his lies like they really believe him, when it is very possible that he is a horrible liar and they are looking at him with a “what are you talking a bout?” expression. Holden often lies to the point where he is lying to him self.
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.
Some people feel all alone in this world, with no direction to follow but their empty loneliness. The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D Salinger, follows a sixteen-year-old boy, Holden Caulfield, who despises society and calls everyone a “phony.” Holden can be seen as a delinquent who smokes tobacco, drinks alcohol, and gets expelled from a prestigious boarding school. This coming-of-age book follows the themes of isolation, innocence, and corrupted maturity which is influenced from the author's life and modernism, and is shown through the setting, symbolism, and diction.
Lies, failure, depression, and loneliness are only some of the aspects that Holden Caulfield goes through in the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger. Salinger reflects Holden’s character through his own childhood experiences. Salinger admitted in a 1953 interview that "My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book.… [I]t was a great relief telling people about it” (Wikipedia). Thus, the book is somewhat the life story of J.D. Salinger as a reckless seventeen-year-old who lives in New York City and goes through awful hardships after his expulsion and departure from an elite prep school. Holden, the protagonist in this novel, is created as a depressed, cynical, and isolated character and he expresses this attitude through his dialogue, tone, and diction.
J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a remarkable book that gives readers a unique and perhaps gloomy perspective of the 1950's through Holden Caulfield, a cynical and peculiar teenager. Through The Catcher in the Rye Salinger describes important aspects of the 1950's. Salinger emphasizes several key characteristics of the 50's and criticizes them through Holden. In addition, Holden Caulfield is a very interesting character with several traits that put him at odds with society.