What Is Holden's Reaction To The Catcher In The Rye

326 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: The catcher in the rye overview essay

In J.D. Salinger's novel “The Catcher in the Rye” the author uses the main character's positive and neutral reactions to unpleasant and gross imagery, and situations to show more of Holden’s personality, and reactions although the imagery seems as though it would only be used for comic relief, or advancing the story, instead of giving the reader insight on a character. For example, During a speech from a money donor for the school one of the other students Edgar Marsalla “laid this terrific fart”, and Holden says “it was quite amusing”. This shows a strange childish side to Holden’s personality even though, throughout the story Holden tries to show how mature he is compared to society. However in the novel when Holden goes back to his room

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Holden's 'Catcher In The Rye'

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    Foster’s characteristics of the QUEST are the quester, the destination, the purpose, the challenges along the way, and the reason behind going to the destination. In The Catcher in the Rye Holden is the quester who begins his journey by being kicked out of Pencey Prep. He decides to go on a trip instead of going home and revealing to his parents that he has been expelled. Staying around New York is a challenge in itself, and by the end of his trip Holden realizes more about himself. Some of the challenges he faces are his immaturity levels getting in the way of certain tasks and his loneliness. At the end of his trip Holden begins to have a new sense of maturity, and is ready to grow up.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Holden's Authentic Self In Catcher In The Rye

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today's world many people do not show their true self to people that they do not feel comfortable around. Readers can see this in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Holden only shows his true authentic self to women and girls. Although Holden seems that he does not like to talk to anyone, when he is around women he pays attention to them, is comfortable, and expresses his true feelings.

    Read More

  • Immaturity of Holden in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Immaturity of Holden in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, cannot accept that he must move out of childhood and into adulthood. One of Holden’s most important major problems is his lack of maturity.

    Read More

  • Holden's Disillusionment In The Catcher In The Rye

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Catcher in the Rye revolves around Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, and his disillusionment. Holden’s disillusionment illustrates that he has a problem accepting such. Aforesaid is based upon multiple factors, most which have brought Holden lasting traumas. A remedy is required for Holden to accept his disillusionment and enable an improvement of his situation. For Holden’s remedy, the consultation of psychologists, and additional specialized health professionals would be the core of an apt remedy for Holden’s psychological and physiological state based upon the numerous causes of such and the everlasting trauma of some of the determinants of aforesaid situation. The origins of Holden’s disillusionment revolved mainly around the death of his younger brother Allie three years ago, of which he still experiences the trauma to this day. His disillusionment is caused by both

    Read More

  • Holden's Fear of Change in The Catcher in the Rye

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    People rebel for a cause. In the book “The Catcher in the Rye” , the protagonist, Holden Caulfield is living in a school called Pencey Prep. Holden is failing all of his classes except English, and he often curses and smokes cigarettes in his dorm. One of Holden’s main problems in life is the death of his brother Allie. Allie, who died of leukemia 3 years prior to the events of the book, was the only person who deeply understood Holden. When Allie died, Holden broke all of the windows in his garage while breaking his own hand. Holden even states that he tried to break his family’s station wagon, but his hand was broken. This event shows that Holden really cared about Allie and that his death had a huge impact on his life. The death of Allie created a fear for Holden, Holden became afraid of change. Holden himself stated that Allie was very mature for his age and very smart in the quote “He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent.” (p. 21). The way Holden sees change is the more you grow, the closer to death you find yourself. In the poem “Novel” by Arthur Rimbaud, the narrator talks about drinking and walking around. The narrator is having fun and is in tune with the environment. A quote that supports this is “At times the air is so scented that we close our eyes,” Other lines in the stanza also support this idea. In the next section, the narrator talks about his/her surroundings and how he feels. He is interrupted by a sudden kiss and starts to tremble like a small insect. In the next section, the narrator starts to talk to himself in his mind. The narrator uses the word ‘you’ not to the reader, but to himself to think about the things he is seeing, for example the attractive girl. The narrat...

    Read More

  • Holden's Depression in The Catcher in the Rye

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nineteen million American adults suffer from a major case of depression (Web MD). That is a staggering one in every fifteen people (2 in our classroom alone). Holden Caulfield is clearly one of those people. Depression is a disease that leads to death but is also preventable. Psychology, stressful events, and prescription drugs are causes of depression. Stressful events brought on Holden’s depression. Holden has been trying to withstand losing a brother, living with careless parents, and not having many friends. The Catcher in the Rye is a book that takes us through the frazzled life of Holden Caulfield, who appears to be just a regular teen. But by hearing his thoughts and through heart-wrenching events in the book, the reader learns that Holden is not the innocent boy that he once appeared. In his book, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger shows that Holden’s depression is not only affecting him, but also the people around him through Sally, Phoebe, and Sunny.

    Read More

  • Holden's Depression In Catcher In The Rye

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    To conclude, Holden try’s desperately on holding on to his innocents. Triggered by the loss of his brother, Holden makes it his mission to protect kids from there inevitable maturity, sealing them from phony’s and. When he realised that he could not achieve the qoel of saving all children from growing up Holden has a nervous breakdown. He dosint understand the proses of life ad he can’t pick to stay a child for ever when in reality growing up is inevitable. ‘’We've let the blade of our innocence dull over time, and it's only in innocence that you find any kind of magic, any kind of courage.”

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Holden's Abandonment

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are very few life changing events that, in an instant, completely alter the way one sees the world. However, the death of a family member is one such event. Family has often been called the backbone of healthy development and growth. Therefore, when this process is disrupted it can cause significant psychological problems. In The Catcher in The Rye, Allie's death caused Holden to develop a fear of abandonment and forced him to become protective of himself.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Selfish Quotes

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    At first glance, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye simply tells the story of Holden Caulfield, who is often characterized as annoying and whiny by the people around him. The anti-hero frequently speaks on impulse, making quick and often inaccurate observations of others. Holden’s immature and overly critical attitude turns off those he encounters, who are displeased with how callow he is. However, what these characters fail to understand is that there is actually a sort of sophistication behind Holden’s reasoning. In fact, throughout the novel, Holden disguises his maturity through outward displays of childishness.

    Read More

  • How Does Holden Present Change In Catcher In The Rye

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Real change is something that cannot be achieved in a short period of time. However, sometimes a sudden insight can help a person learn from their past mistakes or misconceptions. In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the protagonist, Holden, is just on the cusp of entering adulthood. Unfortunately, his alienation from society makes it difficult for him to mature. While he does not overcome this alienation, Holden’s realization that it is not his responsibility to shield children from painful experiences helps him feel less burdened. Through Holden’s changed core beliefs, the author portrays Holden as a dynamic character to demonstrate the effect of change on a person.

    Read More

  • Holden's Perception of Others in Catcher in the Rye

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    J.D. Salinger's novel Catcher in the Rye revolves around Holden's encounters with other people. He divides all people into two different categories, the "phonies" and the authentics. Holden refers to a "phony" as someone who discriminates against others, is a hypocrite, or has manifestations of conformity. A person's age, gender, and occupation, play a key role in how Holden interacts with them.

    Read More

  • Catcher in the Rye Essay: Holden - The Thinking Man

    967 Words  | 2 Pages

    Margaret Atwood defined the “thinking man” as on who resists, believes survival is a necessity, is isolated and alienated, and who is aware of the elements that make one's psyche and physical being disappear.  Atwood's "thinking man" is exhibited in Holden Caulfield through the use of character, plot, and symbolism.

    Read More

  • Relationships with Holden in The Catcher in the Rye

    1951 Words  | 4 Pages

    in all but one of his subjects. He does not like to talk about his

    Read More

  • Holden's Lonliness Catcher In the Rye

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many young people often find themselves struggling to find their own identity and place in society. This search for self worth often leaves these young people feeling lonely and isolated because they are unsure of themselves. Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger's main character in the book The Catcher In the Rye, is young man on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. One contributor to this breakdown, is the loneliness that Holden experiences. His loneliness is apparent through many ways including: his lack of friends, his longing for his dead brother, and the way he attempts to gain acceptance from others.

    Read More

  • Holden's Maturity In The Catcher In The Rye

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    The plot of The Catcher in the Rye consists of Holden fighting the need to mature. This need, powered by the passage time, is stimulated by societal expectations. Society tells him he needs to act his age, to move on, to leave his immaturity in the dust, but still Holden stands his ground to rid himself from the grief that has become his own. This grief arose in Holden when Allie Caulfield, Holden's younger brother, died at the age of eleven from leukemia. He is reminded of the vibrant force that used to be his brother constantly, and Holden cannot move on from his death. Holden is used to dealing with his issues via his immaturity, but society has prevented Holden from using this childish innocence, keeping Holden from moving on. In the end, anger toward society is Holden's only logical response. Holden is the protagonist in a man vs. self and man vs. society scenario, fighting what is likely a losing battle, making him a righteous protagonist and pressing him ever forward into martyrdom.

    Read More

More about What Is Holden's Reaction To The Catcher In The Rye

Open Document