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Holden caulfield character analysis
Holden caulfield character analysis
Analysis of holden caulfield character
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In the coming of age novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a sixteen year old boy who never wants to grow up. Holden surrounds himself with objects and concepts to prevent change and keep the chaotic, responsibility filled adult world at bay. Through the use of these symbols he manages to fabricate an oversimplified, naive fantasy of the world. One symbol that he uses is the Museum of Natural History. Part of the reason why Holden loves the museum so much is because everything there is constant and frozen in time, similar to how he wishes he could freeze certain moments of time like with Allie and Phoebe. "Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big …show more content…
glass cases and just leave them alone (Salinger, 136)". Holden wants everything to stay the same and preserved in the innocence of childhood, even when they cannot be. “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. . . . Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you. (135)”. At the end of this quote, Holden uses “you” instead of “me” to try to distance himself from the change. He also does not actually go into the museum because seeing everything in person would destroy his fragile fantasy that nothing will ever change . “Catcher in the rye” is the source of the novel’s title, and Holden’s imagined world. Holden dreams of himself living in a world in which he can protect children from falling off the cliff of childhood into the void of adulthood: “. . . I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. (191)”. Here it is thoroughly visible how detached Holden is from the world around him. His dream to be a catcher in the rye indicates his innocence, his belief in pure, uncorrupted youth, and his desire to protect that spirit. However, soon after Mr. Antolini explains to Holden the naivety of the world he has constructed for himself and portrays a different kind of fall from the one Holden wants to protect the kids from: “I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of terrible, terrible fall.
. . . The whole arrangement’s designed for men who, at some time or another in their lives, were looking for something their own environment couldn’t supply them with. . . . So they gave up looking. (206-207)”. While Holden imagines an idyllic world of innocence and childhood from where children fall into the ugly adult world, Mr. Antolini describes a plummet into despair, giving up on the world, from which will be difficult to return from. Altogether, Holden creates this simplified version of the world as a way to cut himself off from reality and avoid the real possibilities of much worse things. Lastly, the carousel is one of the last symbols mentioned in the novel. Holden likes it because it is beautiful and doesn’t go anywhere. It simply stays in place going round and round just like Holden wishes he could stay in place and relive good memories over and over again, similar to the museum. Keeping with these similar feelings as the museum, just as Holden only reminisced about memories of going there, so too, he does not go on himself, choosing to instead watch Phoebe go around on it from afar saying that next time he will join her. However, this is consistent with Holden not wanting to shatter his perfect memories and childhood and forever chooses to remain on the sidelines of life, for fear that by actively participating in any real way will force him to grow
up. Overall, Holden's fears and desires are understandable, but his solution which is simply to avoid reality, is impossible. Life is about change and by clinging on to these security blankets he is denying himself that. He is overall a romantic, impractical idealist, trying to find his identity by holding on to the parts of his life that he knows and is comfortable with, altogether withholding himself from growing as an individual, making it hard to make any sort of progressive. Ultimately while Holden’s ideals are justifiable, they are only preventing him from being a better individual and will most likely persist throughout the rest of his life.
This demonstrates that Holden has this mindset and believes that he isn't ageing because he occasionally believes that he is thirteen most of the time. He's trying to resist adulthood because that’s when all his issues began. In addition, when Holden took Phoebe to a museum he really enjoyed his time there because of how everything was put. Holden sated “the best thing though in the museum was that everything always stayed right where it is. Nobody´d move. You could go hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole … Nobody's be different” (Salinger 121). This conveys that Holden is fond of the museum because it doesn't change unlike other places he is surrounded which relates to the death of his brother Allie, who died of leukemia. He believes that when his brother died, his whole world shifted as a result, his parent isolated themselves from him and connects to the reason Holden is unable to acknowledge that his urge is to never change like a
In the beginning of the book, Holden often craves for his familiar past. During Holden’s visit to the museum he observes the sameness of everything. Holden mentions that “the best
Throughout the book Holden admits he doesn't like change. Holden fear of growing up , becoming an adult and thinking of of it disgust him. For example the museum, Holden like it because the exterior of it did not change and says the only thing that would change would be you.In the text Luce says “Same old Caulfield.When are you going to grow up already?”(144). Holden wants things to stay how they are and how his life is. Holden considers adults phonies and he doesn’t want to be consider phony as well. When he describes the museum he says the best part about it is that it never changes, only you do.Holden bonds with his sister taking her to the zoo, museum and the carousel.He wants to Phoebe to experience what he did and to get the memories alive. “What I have to do, I would have to catch everyone if they start to go over the cliff- what I have to do, I mean if they are running and they don't look where they are going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That is all I have to do. I would just be the catcher in the rye”(173). This quote show how by holden is catching them from falling down the cliff which symbolizes stopping them from adulthood. “Thousand of little kids and nobody’s around- nobody big , I mean except me”(173). This quotes implies how young innocent kids won't be exerted by adults
Holden tries to preserve his own innocence, and the innocence of others by not letting go of childhood memories and through his desire to suspend time. Holden views the adult world as corrupt and full of phonies. He admires childhood because of how it is free of corruption, and untouched by the adult world. IN order to preserve his own innocence Holden often attaches himself to childhood memories. The Museum of NAtural History is one of Holden’s favourite places . He mentions that his grade one teacher Miss. Aigletinger used to take his class there every saturday. While writing about the museum he says, “The best thing, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was” (121). This shows how Holden wants to preserve his innocence because he expresses how he likes how everything stayed the
Part of the irony in Holden’s story is that physically, he looks mature, but mentally, he is still very much a child: “I act quite young for my age, sometimes. I was sixteen then, and I’m seventeen now … I’m six foot two and a half and I have gray hair ” (9). There is no middle ground, adolescence, for Holden. He can only be an adult, physically, or a child, mentally. Holden’s history teacher, Mr. Spencer, tries to appeal to him by using a metaphor: “Life is a game, boy.
Growing up and becoming mature can be an intimidating experience; it is difficult to let go of one’s childhood and embrace the adult world. For some people, this transition from youthfulness to maturity can be much more difficult than for others. These people often try to hold on to their childhood as long as they can. Unfortunately, life is not so simple. One cannot spend their entire life running from the responsibilities and hardships of adulthood because they will eventually have to accept the fact that they have a role in society that they must fulfill as a responsible, mature individual. The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger follows the endeavours of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who faces a point in his life where he must make the transition from childhood to adulthood. In an attempt to retain his own childhood, he begins hoping to stop other young children from growing up and losing their innocence as well. As indicated by the title, “The Catcher in the Rye” is a book that explores a theme involving the preservation of innocence, especially of children. It is a story about a boy who is far too hesitant to grow up, and feels the need to ensure that no one else around him has to grow up either. His own fear of maturity and growing up is what leads to Holden’s desire to become a “catcher in the rye” so he can save innocent children from becoming part of the “phoniness” of the adult world.
(A)J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, displays the mentality of a teen who struggles to deal with the idea of growing up. (B)Holden, the central figure of the narrative, views growing up as falling into the superficiality of society and strives to prevent children from maturing. (C)The name Holden Caulfield is representative of his wish to be a savior for children who are going through adolescence and to prevent their innocence from being corrupt by a society enclosed in lies but realizes that it is futile and that it could actually cause harm and be a barrier for development.
Holden loves Phoebe and thinks of her often, one such instance being where he buys her a record that he thinks she will like. Unfortunately, he drops this record before he can give it to her—shattering it. Holden explains this to her and is surprised by her response: “’Gimme the pieces,’ she said. ‘I’m saving them.’ She took them right out of my hand and then put them in the drawer…” (Salinger 212) One way to read this scene is to see the record as representative Holden, just as broken and damaged as he feels. By accepting the pieces, regardless of the fact they do not function, she is accepting Holden in his current state. This contrasts the way many others treat Holden. They are constantly reminding him of his inadequacies, trying to change him, saying he must apply himself in school and think about the future. Another object that is somewhat representative of Holden is a red hunting hat that he only wears when he thinks others will not see him. It seems to give him confidence, despite his being embarrassed by the look of the hat. In Holden’s final scene with Phoebe, he notes that she “…all of a sudden she gave me a kiss. Then she…reached in my coat pocket and took out my red hunting hat and put it on my head” (Salinger 274). Both the kiss and giving him the hat
The works of J.D. Salinger's Catcher and the Rye has resonated inside society for generations. Throughout the novel, Holden–a teenager who is spiraling towards a mental breakdown–experiences difficulties growing up. After the loss of his brother and the expulsion from his school, he starts to form his own opinions on the adult world. Throughout Holden’s experiences, his mind becomes more and more tainted as he his innocence slowly leaves him. He idolizes other people who have not yet been through what he has. Salinger uses symbolism to demonstrate how Holden despises the loss of innocence in growing up.
Much evidence points towards the notion that Holden became mentally ill consequently to his brother Allie’s death, whom to Holden, represented all that was good in the world. In a metaphor between life and a museum, Holden remarks that the“...best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move” (121). With this, it can be inferred that Holden’s persona is rather sensitive to change, and prefers the still atmosphere of a museum where artifacts stuck in time are showcased. Had Allie never passed away, Holden would likely be a more positive person or at least someone who doesn’t exhibit symptoms of a mental illness. Evidence supporting this claim is the fact that teenage brains are more sensitive to traumatizing past events that would consequently alter their mindsets
He refuses to to transition into adulthood, this is shown through Salinger’s use of the ducks in central park. Holden’s obsession over the ducks is a youthful curiosity. Everytime he meets a new cab driver he raises the question about the ducks, he has a child like need for closure to answers no matter how ridiculous they may seem. The interaction between Holden and the various cabbies seems like mere small talk but is actually one of the main structures for Holden’s character. The museum that Holden visits also can be identified as a symbol for Holden’s fear of change and his need to stay young. The museum itself remains unaltered for years. It remains the one thing in Holden’s life that seems to be frozen in
He decides to sleep in the waiting room of Grand Central Station. It is during this time period that Holden has time to think. He starts thinking about how he is going to run away; his plan is to say goodbye to Phoebe and then travel to a place where no one knows him and start over. This reveals how Holden tends to isolate himself. It is when Holden meets up with Phoebe that he decides not to leave. Phoebe serves as comfort to Holden and he does not want to lose that. When Holden is around Phoebe, he fits in. This is the comfort and acceptance he is looking for, so he decides to
Holden has labeled the world as superficial while childhood is full of innocence and honesty. his distinct understanding of the adult world and the childhood world allows him to shield himself from the worlds disappointments. His armour of distrust is broken down during his experience with Mr. Antolini and shows how superficial his conceptions are.Mr. Antolini advice for education is unconventional as he says “someone will learns something from you...it isn’t educational its poetry”(chapter 24). He tells Holden to focus more on school because his voice needs to be heard. When Mr. Antolini puts his hand on Holden as a comforting gesture ,Holden mistakenly interprets it as sexual and upon further reflection regrets his quick judgments. When Holden admits his mistake , he is starting to question his practice of making judgements
Although Holden’s rather cynical language, negative attitude, and troubled past are all aggravating, the majority of readers are bothered most by the fact that Holden is not a reliable narrator. Because Holden does not wish to look beyond one’s physical appearance, he sees no difference in anyone but himself, as he is convinced he is the only person with complexities. In the novel, the reader is only allowed Holden’s end of the story; therefore, every event is based on his thoughts and experiences, and thus, the audience must form conclusions based on these particular opinions and ideas alone. Furthermore, Holden often seems to be at odds with other characters in addition to being extremely incapable of making correct judgements about his
Holden takes Phoebe to ride the carousel and convinces her that she is not too big for the ride, because when himself, Allie, and D.B. used to go to the park with her, all together, she was “mad” (Salinger 210) about riding the carousel, she never wanted off. Holden knew that she would still enjoy riding the carousel, regardless of her age, and he would enjoy watching more than riding. Holden sees Phoebe trying to grab the golden ring and realizes that sometimes there is innocence that needs to be present and sometimes there are instances where it needs to be lost. While Phoebe was riding, Holden decided to allow her to try to grab the ring and let her enjoy her youthful innocence. Holden, however, realizes that he is better off watching Phoebe than riding along. He says, “If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say something to them” (Salinger 211). Watching Phoebe ride the carousel, while sitting back on a bench, in the rain, set for Holden to realize in order to protect Phoebe’s innocence he had to become mature. Holden’s maturity was revoked when he decides to stay afar and simply enjoy Phoebe’s youthfulness. Watching his sister reach for the golden ring made Holden think of himself reaching for his own dreams. While he may have been in many different schools through his lifetime, he still imagines reaching his “golden