Analysis Of Catcher In The Rye

The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger describes the narrator, Holden Caulfield, as an adolescent with many interesting views on society. The narrator has a lot of misplaced rages. When Stradlater and Holden were talking about a girl, named Jane, Stradlater went on a date with, after hearing that his friend has certain relations with this girl he got up off the bed and tried to punch him (Salinger 43). When Holden was younger he had known Jane when he was younger there was no justifiable reason for Holden to attack Stradlater. Holden dealt with the situation in a violent manner because he had built up rage from that conversation.

Edgar unintentionally gets into a fight with another man at the bar that is described to be similar to “Chief Broom from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (pg. 49). Sissy tried to stop the fight before it ever happened, but Edgar decided to go through with the fight to try to prove that he belonged to this group of people. He was so desperate for a bond with someone that he was willing to fight to show that he was worthy to be with this group of Indian people. The fight does not end well and Edgar wakes up in Sissy’s lap in the storeroom. Edgar feels so lost at this point that he reaches out and grabs Sissy’s breast, but Sissy pushes him away.

Holden’s obsession stems from his fear that he may become a phony one day. So, he spends the book running from adulthood by doing childish things and struggling to keep his life from changing. We see Holden’s fear of phonies shine throughout The Catcher in the Rye. Why does he have this fear?

Jitney by August Wilson, involves one of the leading character who goes by the name of Youngblood, sometimes referred to as Darnell. Youngblood has a family, his girlfriend Rena and their son; Youngblood tries to surprise his girlfriend with a new house, but this action backfires. Rena believes Youngblood is still unfaithful and sleeping around with another woman, this is uncertain by the reader but Rena comes to the conclusion since Youngblood vanishes for long periods of time. In addition, the money set aside for food has been spent but on something other than food.

The novel is set in 1950’s New York and although Holden is not specific about his current location, from the context we can glean that he is writing his story from a mental institution of some sort. The story is told as a flash-back as Holden recounts the days that follow his expulsion from “Prencey Prep”, the private school which he attends. After getting into a fight with his roommate, Stradlater, Holden decides to leave school several days earlier than he is expected back home for winter break, venturing into New York City. Holden spends a total of two days in the city and these days are spent for the most part wandering around the city and encountering strange places, people and situations.

Holden oppresses himself when the prostitute comes over by instead of having sex with her he tells her to leave and he will still pay for her fee, this proves that Holden pretends to be a sex maniac while oppressing his sexuality. Holden also states that with all of his girlfriends he could have “given them the time” but whenever they said stop, he would, thus sating his oppression and that he thinks that sex is morally wrong at his age. “I’ve had quite a few opportunities to lose my virginity and all, but I’ve never got around to it yet” (92).

Holden does not intentionally discuss his relationship with his parents any further in the book. But if you read the chapter when Holden sneaks into his apartment to see Phoebe where she cleverly figures out why he is in New York earlier than he should be, and Phoebe continuously tells Holden that their father will kill him because of it and Holden responds “No, he won’t. The worst he’ll do, he’ll give me hell again and then send me to a goddam military school. That’s all he’ll do to

Timothy Aubry, a critic, comments on the novel’s blatant attitude. “Since 1951 when it was first published, The Catcher in the Rye has served as a resonant expression of alienation for several generations of adolescent readers and adults who have considered themselves at odds with the norms and institutions of American society.” Holden looks at the people in New York City leading society’s version of idealistic lives and feels repulsed. His view on life is cynical, not at all in line with the optimism of the American Dream. This book could then be an antithesis of the idea.

During the meeting, Holden annoys Carl with his fixation on sex. After Luce leaves, Holden gets drunk, awkwardly flirts with several adults, and calls an icy Sally. Exhausted and out of money, Holden wanders over to Central Park to investigate the ducks, breaking Phoebe's record on the way. Nostalgically recalling his experience in elementary school and the unchanging dioramas in the Museum of Natural History that he enjoyed visiting as a child, Holden heads home to see Phoebe. He sneaks into his parents' apartment while they are out, and wakes up Phoebe – the only person with whom he seems to be able to communicate his true feelings.

J.D Salinger’s widely read novel, “The Catcher in the Rye” is an episodic novel that describes in great depth Holden Caulfields three day trip from Pencey Prep, California to New York. During his roam to New York, Holden undergoes many social problems that seem to affect the way Holden behaves and acts. One of the main social issues in the novel is his innocence as he is acclimated to being around adults. In addition, another societal problem Holden faces is sexual confusion as Holden claims he is a sex maniac although, he is still a virgin. Finally, Holden has difficulties with isolation as Holden lives distant from his family and constantly strives to find ways to feel belonged.

Ashes is predicting what her dad wants to do. One more quote from the story is “I must have sounded like mom because he stopped talking. ”(Pfeffer pg 3). This is showing that Ashes usually talks like her dad and since she said something that sounded like something her mom would say, her dad got surprised. Ashes thinks and acts like her dad.

Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men...will inherit the kingdom of God "(Biblica Inc, NIV). Mr. Waters will not inherit the kingdom of God obviously because of his wrong doings towards Marshall. At the end of Mr. Waters life, he got abusive with Dory and slashed her on her face and pulled open her shirt. Dory began to yell for help and once Ben had gone down with a sledgehammer to help her she came back up running.

Carl Luce, a student adviser from a previous school, is also being labelled as phony, yet Holden calls him. “The only thing he ever did, though, was give these sex talks and all late at night… He knew quite a bit about sex…” (154) It is no secret why Holden wants to meet with Carl. Holden sounds sex obsessed and very childish during his conversation with Carl. He is trying to provoke Carl to talk about sex.

Equality 7-2521 starts the novel as misguided, who has just never understood that he is not quite the same as everyone around him. When Equality 7-2521 incidentally returns late to the Home of the Street Sweepers, he postponed to tell his Home Council where he has been, and is thrown into the Palace of Corrective Detention, where he 's beaten. "Take our brother Equality 7-2521 to the Palace of Corrective Detention. Lash them until they tell" (64). The refusal to account for himself, based on how the Elders treated him and his lightbulb , was strengthening the thought of "self", which until this minute was truly not understood.

I heard Glenda tell Mom that since 9/11, she felt that John was experiencing those old urges, and she was worried that his old habits might resurface. I knew that she seemed worried about the new couple my mom invited, and I changed the subject back to the pervert. I said to Leo, “If we ever meet a three hundred pound hair lip, I’ll have you do all the talking.” “You are an asshole.” “I am what I am,” I said.