Catcher In The Rye Archetypes Analysis
Keegan Good
Mr. Porter
English IV
17 September 2015
Analyzing Archetypes in The Catcher in the Rye
[ROUGH DRAFT]
Archetypes are presented in almost every novel ever written. They assist in providing symbolic and figurative examples to support literary arrangements. The Catcher in the Rye is set in the 1950s. It is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a problematic sixteen-year-old boy. Holden does not specify his whereabouts while he’s telling the story, but he makes it clear that he is undergoing treatment in an insane asylum. The story takes place during the days between the end of the fall quarter and Christmas. He is facing expulsion and decides to drop out of school. During the narration of the story, Holden experiences and uses several types
…show more content…
Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, archetypes are shown through situations, colors, nature, symbols, and shapes; these archetypes prove that certain characteristics can be represented symbolically and hold meaning throughout the novel.
In this novel, Holden Caulfield undergoes emotional changes due to situational archetypes including the journey, the initiation, and the battle between good and evil. He begins his journey by being suspended from school, comparable to when the hero is casted away or exiled. The hero, being Holden, casted out and with no one to turn to, decides to go find himself. This mentor mentality symbolizes the hero’s first step in internal realization, redemption, and his journey to discover who he really is. Unlike other novels that contain the hero’s journey, The Catcher in the Rye differentiates because in a sense, Holden is his own mentor, taking things from the outside world and
…show more content…
First, water is used in a symbolic nature to represent his passive attitude when he is around his friends. In this environment, Holden is relaxed and not engaged in anything that could change the course of his journey. Surprisingly, he is mainly around water when he is in his dormitory. Second, ice/snow is used to set a cold and barren mood, which is what most of the novel feels like and what weather it takes place in. The reason the author does this is to set the mood and show how the emotions of our hero Holden change throughout the novel while greatly emphasizing one one mood in particular, that being this
How Does Holden Present Depression In Catcher In The Rye
481 Words | 2 PagesThe catcher in the rye tells the story of Holden Caufield, a teenage boy who recently got kicked out from his fourth school. Holden decides to leave the school before he is scheduled to and wanders around New York. Holden shows many symptoms of depression throughout the novel such as, disengaging from activities, not doing his school work and having no interests or hobbies. Holden shows little to no change throughout the novel and does not develop as a character. Holden’s flight reaction is something that stays with him throughout the book.
Holden Caulfield Setting
644 Words | 3 PagesCatcher in the Rye is the recounting of the weekend after the main character gets expelled for the umpteenth time from another uppity private school. The name of the main character, "Holden Caulfield," can be broken down in such a way that it reveals the character in question's tendency to hold onto and protect happier memories and childhood innocence from this big, unfair, scary game we call life, without realizing that he would be stunting the growth of those whom he is protecting. The character's first name, "Holden", can be interpreted as a pun for how he wants to "hold on" to better times. Throughout the story, Holden speaks fondly about his childhood summer memories, talking about when he used to play checkers with Jane Gallagher (p.17), or when he, his younger siblings, Phoebe and Allie, went to the park every Sunday (p. 37) to play, and often brushes the more serious moments he has experienced off, instead of going on a tangent like he usually does (p.21).
Maturation Symbolism In Catcher In The Rye
126 Words | 1 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye, Jerome D. Salinger’s one and only full novel, was written in 1951. Since then, it has sold more than 65 million copies and translated into most of the world’s major languages. This book tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a 16 year old who can’t seem to be able to stay at one school and despises the “phoniness” of adult-life. One day, he must grow up, but Salinger is there to lead him throughout the book. Salinger uses symbolism to convey a maturation theme in his work.
Dialectical Journal For The Catcher In The Rye
963 Words | 4 PagesCatcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield’s recounting of the weekend after he gets expelled from the umpteeth time form another private school. His name can be broken down to reveal his struggle to retain his happier childhood memories and innocence, to grow up, and to protect others from the difficulties of life. His first name, Holden, can be interpreted for how he wants to hold onto better times. “I can't remember exactly what I was doing when I heard his goddam stupid footsteps coming down the corridor… When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around… If you knew Stradlater, you'd have been worried, too…
Examples Of Thematic Essay On The Catcher In The Rye
1107 Words | 5 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye Thematic Essay Imagine living a lonesome life, full of fear and little hope of better days to come. Imagine the toll this would take on a person’s life and how they develop as a person. For Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D Salinger’s classic The Catcher in the Rye this, is his reality. Holden is a sixteen year old troubled boy suffering through major mental issues and living a rather a depressing life for a teenager. Throughout the novel he goes through many hardships that only worsen his depression making him feel hatred towards his seemingly hellish world.
Holden Caulfield Satire
573 Words | 3 PagesThe Catcher And The Rye by J.D. Salinger is an epic novel where our main character Holden Caulfield faces many challenges that challenge him as a young man such as growing up, rebellion, and love. Holden like most teenagers is rebellious but to an extreme nature. After flunking out of his fourth school the last one being Pencey Prep he refuses to tell his mother and father. In wanting to avoid this confrontation he leaves three days earlier taking a train back to Manhattan. Where he goes on adventure that turns him into a young man.
Catcher In The Rye And 1984 Comparison Essay
672 Words | 3 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye is a story about loner Holden Caulfield who recounts his past few days where he was kicked out of school, left to visit New York, and shares his thoughts on almost everything in his everyday life, such as women and his dreams to be a catcher in the rye. First, to establish the shabby setting, Salinger uses similes. When Holden travels to his former teacher's home, he sidetracks from his original thought to complain about the bed he is sitting on. Salinger writes Holden thinking, "'It is. I was.
Catcher In The Rye Holden's Struggles Essay
830 Words | 4 PagesHolden’s Struggle To Find Himself: Throughout the novel, The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden struggles to find himself and who he truly is in order to be happy. His struggles relate to many things that he does or say in particular. Holden lacks with a social status with women and his family, whether it’s a relationship or being antisocial. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield experiences the complexities and struggles involved with both physical and emotional relationships.
Holden Caulfield Journey
2122 Words | 9 PagesJ.D Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye, follows the main character, Holden Caulfield, and his experiences that lead him to be talking to a mental therapist. Told through Holden’s eyes, his profane and blunt explanations of major moments in his life allow readers to see that Holden is not crazy but is actually struggling with transitioning from child to adult. Throughout the story, he fondly remembers his early childhood and is trying the best he can to run from adulthood. He fears that he, like so many around him, may become phony when he becomes an adult. This fear drives his actions and gives him a feeling of hatred toward phony adults and a feeling of obligation to shield children from the harsh adult world.
Stubbornness In Catcher In The Rye
1493 Words | 6 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye In the novel The Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger writes about a teenager struggling to find his place within the existence of the reality of others. Salinger creates shocking events that lay out the foundation of the the main character Holden Caulfield’s life in the novel. Salinger uses Holden’s characteristics throughout the novel such as Holden’s stubbornness to establish a much bigger theme in the book along with many other symbols.
Catcher In The Rye Holden's Journey Analysis
656 Words | 3 PagesThe novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was about the journey of a adolescent boy finding his way to adulthood. In the book Holden Caulfield was unsuccessful in finding his way to adulthood. Holden’s attitude in the novel throughout his journey was very immature. He also can't accept the fact that innocence can’t be forever protected. Lastly, Holden calls everyone a phony when in reality he is the real phony.
Red Hunting Hat Symbolism Catcher In The Rye
484 Words | 2 PagesThe world is full of images. Images are motionless in nature, yet they capture the essence of moments. These images help people in better understanding what the moment is about or what it is trying to illustrate. Similarly, Symbols work in the same manner. In this case, symbols aided in depicting J.D. Salinger’s
An Alternate Ending to The Catcher in the Rye
1400 Words | 6 PagesPurpose: To show how a small change in choice could affect holden’s life The Catcher in the Rye is about Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy from New York. The novel starts with Holden, writing in his book, hinting that he is in some sort of mental facility .Even though he comes from a wealthy family,because of his loss of interest in studies,and low grades, he gets expelled from all schools he has studied in .Holden leaves his final school, Pency Prep and decides that he will stay in New York City until his parents learn of his expulsion and “cool down” .Most of the novel is dedicated to Holden’s time in the city, Holden lives in a hotel room for a few days during his stay .Holden then starts meeting with people that he used know, some strangers and goes to places with. From his conversations, he
Character Analysis: The Catcher In The Rye
720 Words | 3 PagesHolden Caulfield, the main protagonist in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, embodies the classic teenager in the process of discovering himself, and how the world works. But, regardless of Holden 's rich, prep school lifestyle, the series of events that have mapped out his life up to this point have utterly affected his emotional well being and perception of the world. Many traumatic events such as the death of holds brother Allie, the death of a class mate, and countless numbers of awkward incidents with adults have all added up to affects Holden 's well-being and detach him from reality. The death of Holden 's younger brother Allie has caused him to confuse his perception of reality and to alienate himself.
Catcher In The Rye Theme Analysis
1471 Words | 6 PagesMotifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help develop and inform the text 's major themes. One of the recurring themes in the novel The Catcher in the Rye is the omnipresent theme of death. It could be argued that the novel is not only full of references to death in the literal sense, physical disappearance, but also in the metaphorical, taking the form of spiritual disappearance, something which Holden often focuses on, along with the actual theme of mortality. It is possible that this occurs because of his reluctance to interact with the living world. As his means of escaping from the reality he despises, his mundane thoughts and the “phoniness” that he is surrounded by.
More about Catcher In The Rye Archetypes Analysis
How Does Holden Present Depression In Catcher In The Rye
481 Words | 2 PagesHolden Caulfield Setting
644 Words | 3 PagesMaturation Symbolism In Catcher In The Rye
126 Words | 1 PagesDialectical Journal For The Catcher In The Rye
963 Words | 4 PagesExamples Of Thematic Essay On The Catcher In The Rye
1107 Words | 5 PagesHolden Caulfield Satire
573 Words | 3 PagesCatcher In The Rye And 1984 Comparison Essay
672 Words | 3 PagesCatcher In The Rye Holden's Struggles Essay
830 Words | 4 PagesHolden Caulfield Journey
2122 Words | 9 PagesStubbornness In Catcher In The Rye
1493 Words | 6 PagesCatcher In The Rye Holden's Journey Analysis
656 Words | 3 PagesRed Hunting Hat Symbolism Catcher In The Rye
484 Words | 2 PagesAn Alternate Ending to The Catcher in the Rye
1400 Words | 6 PagesCharacter Analysis: The Catcher In The Rye
720 Words | 3 PagesCatcher In The Rye Theme Analysis
1471 Words | 6 Pages