Catcher In The Rye
Brash, bawdy and yet one of the most compelling and influential pieces of American literature, “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, is about how a troubled adolescent, protagonist Holden Caulfield, grapples with the pains of growing up. Published in 1951 and originally written for adults, “The Catcher in the Rye” has been read differently over the years. The New York Times described it as “an unusually brilliant novel” where “adolescence speak[s] for itself”. On the other hand, The Washington Post said reading “The Catcher in the Rye” was “literally a painful experience … comparable to mainlining castor oil”. The novel has also bounced on and off censored lists because it was claimed to be “filthy and profane”, “explicitly pornographic” …show more content…
For instance, the novel glamorizes under-age and non-consensual sex. This is clearly seen when Holden admires his friend, Luce, for “losing his virginity when he was only fourteen” and praises his roommate, Stradlater’s, “technique” for “snowing his date” even when she says, “No please don’t”. In addition, while Holden seems to respect the wishes of girls he goes out with, he secretly wishes he hadn’t (pg. 131). Admittedly, the sexual references in the novel are subtle and less explicit than those found in the media and, books, music, and video games that adolescents are currently exposed to. Nevertheless, sex is a conspicuous aspect of “The Catcher in the Rye” and, misleads middle school readers about sexual matters and intimate relationships, as illustrated above. This is dangerous because middle schoolers are not always educated about sexual matters, and find it difficult to talk to adults about these things. Therefore, as research shows, literature is often an important source of answers about sex for middle schoolers (Wood 2010). Thus, it is not only important for middle schoolers to be well-informed about sexual matters, but also be exposed to literature that represents sex in a healthy way and is suited to their level of understanding. Otherwise, we run the risk of, middle schoolers forming unhealthy
Why Holden Doesn T Holden Pass As An Adult
1359 Words | 6 PagesNoah Pedrazzoli Mr. Krajca English 9 HR 30 March 2017 “The Catcher in the Rye” essay Why Can’t Holden pass as an Adult Have you ever felt the pressure of Adulthood closing in and felt that you would never fit in as one? Did you ever feel Childish or immature? In J.D Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Holden Caulfield is in the midst of a mental break down because of the pressure of Adulthood. After being expelled from yet another school, Holden Caulfield goes to New York City to experience the “Adult life”, but he just can’t fit in.
How Does Holden Change Throughout The Catcher In The Rye
858 Words | 4 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, focuses on a young man–Holden Caulfield–who fears growing up. Throughout the book, Holden struggles to accept that he is entering the “phony” world of adulthood. He has rebelled in various ways to prove that he has control over his life; however, the one thing Holden yearns to control is the inevitable change of growing older. J.D. Salinger uses symbolism and point of view to convey the theme of this book: fear of change and growing up. The fear of entering the adult world can lead somebody to protect themselves to avoid failure of fitting in.
Holden Caulfield Adulthood
1365 Words | 6 PagesNo one wants to grow up. The transitions from innocent childhood, to fearless adolescence, to sudden real and terrifying adulthood is enough to scare anyone. So, because of this, people have a natural desire to want to protect innocence, or perhaps to even stop time and live young and free forever. J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye portrays this dilemma of becoming an adult and the protection of innocence through the story of Holden Caulfield. Holden’s story is essentially that of a teenage boy bumming around New York City for a few days in search of someone to listen to him about his fears of becoming an adult.
Outline For The Catcher In The Rye
284 Words | 2 PagesOutline: I. Introduction A. Hook and Background of the issue: adolescence in general + brief intro of the book (1 or 2 sentences each) B. Thesis: Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger uses Holden to convey the immature mentality, painfulness of growing up and alienation for protection of typical teenagers. II. Immature mentality A. When Holden asks about the ducks, this reveals his childish side of his character. His search for the ducks represents his curiosity and his encouragement to encounter mysteries.
Catcher In The Rye Outsiders
1360 Words | 6 PagesIn every aspect of society, there are social norms, a regulation or expectancy that dominates people’s morals, beliefs, actions, attitudes and behaviors. In J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel, Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield defy societal norms, becoming an outsider who is searching for his place and meaning in the world. His world is full of what he calls, “phonies,” a person who is not genuine, will do whatever it takes to make themselves look good, and change their personality to fit into a certain group. Throughout the novel, the audience is taken on a journey with Holden through post-World War II New York. During that time period, the United States of America was an other-directed society; a society based on one’s ability to conform to societal
Holden Informal Language
1210 Words | 5 PagesAmong the major hallmarks of The Catcher in the Rye is J. D. Salinger’s use of mid-twentieth-century slang and colloquial speech. Indeed, the language of the novel is one of the reasons critics considered the novel groundbreaking and controversial upon its initial publication. Salinger’s use of informal language also contributed to the novel’s popularity among a wide readership, who could recognize the voices and speech patterns in Holden’s narrative. Not only does Holden’s language make it easier for readers to identify with him; but his speech is also centrally important to the meaning of the novel as a whole. Holden’s colloquial speech signals the kind of youthful authenticity he strives to project (and protect) throughout the novel.
Reasons For Banning The Catcher In The Rye
193 Words | 1 PagesThe Catcher in The Rye, a novel by J.D Salinger, is a widely known book, and not shocking to find that it’s a banned book in many schools. Holden-the main protagonist and narrator, is a young boy trying to fit into the world of the 1950’s. He thinks in order to fit in, he has to stand out. He tells stories(lies) to people who couldn’t care less, while the thinks he’s doing them a favor. He can become compassionate to people he loves or cares about, and to children that he thinks should hold onto their childhood.
Catcher In The Rye Literary Devices
1179 Words | 5 PagesCreating a story that transcends time takes the work of a skilled and dedicated writer. To be able to throw a global audience into the mind of a complicated character is a feat not easily done. In the novel “Catcher in the Rye”, the author, J.D Salinger, masterfully uses his story telling skills to portray Holden Caulfield’s miserable decent into adulthood in this expertly written novel. It’s not difficult to see the ingredients that Salinger used to concoct this relatable and dramatic story. He uses excellent themes that audiences have seen in their own lives, he uses symbolism that enriches the reading experience with deeper meaning, and he uses a unique writing style that further immerses the reader into the character and setting.
Catcher In The Rye Text Analysis
2272 Words | 10 PagesText Analysis Practicum Course Instructor: Dr. Lorelei Caraman Dimişcă Bianca-Melania Russian - English Childhood vs. adulthood in J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” “The Catcher in the Rye” is a novel written by J.D. Salinger in 1951. The book is one of the most controversial books ever written and its popularity comes from the author’s rough attitude towards society from the perspective of a teenager. “The Catcher in the Rye” is thought to be J.D. Salinger’s masterpiece and it is listed as one of the best novels of the 20th century. In 2009 Finlo Rohrer affirmed that even 58 years later after the book has been published it is still considerate “the defining work on what it is like to be a teenager”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye)
Catcher In The Rye Existentialism
1468 Words | 6 PagesAs students analyze The Catcher in the Rye, they gain insight into the cultural environment at the time when it was written. J.D. Salinger was a soldier in WWII that saw some of the most combat, most notably fighting at the Battle of the Bulge, invading Utah Beach on D-Day, and liberating prisoners at Dachau. As a young man, Salinger saw the destructiveness of adult society. However, Salinger did not return from combat and write about war, he wrote about an adolescent wandering around New York City for a few days trying to cope with the “phoniness” of the adult world. Near the beginning of the novel, Holden states, “The one side of my head- the right side – if filled with millions of grey hairs…
Catcher In The Rye Censorship
520 Words | 3 PagesThe reality of adolescence shown through the narrators struggle with sexual lust and his use of inappropriate language makes the Catcher In The Rye an asset to the learning experience
Examples Of Phony In Catcher In The Rye
697 Words | 3 PagesIn J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is known for calling most adults “phony.” He struggles with the idea of change and adolescence; and in order to for him to stay a child, he devises a world where he must protect the children’s innocence by shielding them away from the hypocrisy and phoniness of adults. He fervently believes that children are the only genuine people in the world. While Holden visits the Museum of Natural History, he immediately feels a compelling connection. He starts to remember his childhood and his happiness when he was young.
Catcher In The Rye Internal Conflict
1032 Words | 5 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye is a novel that was written by J. D. Salinger in 1951. It was first published by Little, Brown and Company and was originally written for adults, but became popular among teenagers for its teenage main character, who deals with problems a large number of adolescents face in their transition into adulthood. It is not a difficult book to read, especially considering it is only 234 pages. The story revolves around the protagonist, a 16 year old boy named Holden Caulfield, who recently flunked out of a prestigious preparatory school.
Catcher In The Rye Adolescence Analysis
859 Words | 4 PagesIn the Catcher in the Rye, Salinger depicts the immature mentality of typical teenagers through Holden’s childish curiosity. Teens experience
Catcher In The Rye
602 Words | 3 PagesI have become interested in history because it has made me evaluate my perceptions and understanding of events both past and present. Through studying history I have started to understand the tension between different factions in society and how art, philosophy, music and subculture can be seen as a reaction to events that are taking place in their time. By learning about the rise of the Labour party, reading ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger and visiting the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island, I am now aware that the challenges which people contend with today, such as why the migrants are leaving places such as Syria and my personal experiences as a teenager, are fundamentally similar to what people have faced previously. Learning about 20th century British and European history has increased my awareness and understanding of current political debates, such as the role of the state in providing a welfare system and whether Britain should keep Trident.
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