Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence Essay
Within the most arduous interlude of one’s life, – the transitory period from childhood to adulthood – one must discover oneself as an extension of the surrounding world. Acknowledging the world’s woes are requisite in becoming an adult. The struggle in accepting this reality is evident in J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, which presents the prelude to Holden Caulfield’s admittance into a mental institute. His conflict with himself and the adult world is the epitome of the novel: Holden yearns to preserve innocence while vituperating adulthood. Although he initially sees the two as an unfulfilling dichotomy, Holden slowly reassesses his perspective to see that both can coexist and that his presence within it is plausible. Throughout the novel, Holden is raptured by the idea of innocence, for he regards it as sacred. He would like to devote his life to safeguard innocence by “catching everybody if they start to go over the …show more content…
Until his meeting up with Phoebe, Holden always gave things to others – a jacket to Stradlater or a turtleneck to James Castle. And while there are times people offer to give him something, – Mr. Spencer and Mr. Antolini giving life advice – Holden persists to be suspicious and hesitant to receive. His hesitancy, however, fades when Phoebe “reached in [his] coat pocket and took out [his] red hunting hat and put it on [his] head” (367). Holden finally allows himself to receive something; his acceptance of the hat mirrors his acceptance of the duality of life, something he has hitherto rejected. By watching his sister ride on the carousel, Holden “felt so god damn happy all of a sudden,” and albeit there was heavy rain, Holden’s “hunting hat really gave [him] quite a lot of protection” (368). Holden’s newfound trust, exemplified in his reacquiring and usage of the hat, provides him a sense of momentary security and peace: he is now able to open up about his emotions and begin a process
What Is Holden's Red Hunting Hat Symbolize
545 Words | 3 PagesHolden gets kicked of his school, Pencey, and goes to talk to his English teacher, Mr. Spencer. When he gets back to his dorm room after discussing that, he “put on this hat that…[he’d] bought in New York that morning. It was this red hunting hat, with one of those very, very long peaks” (21). After Holden and Mr. Spencer have the conversation about leaving Pencey and going through his school career and beyond, he puts on his hat. Because he is about to leave Pencey, a big change in his life, Holden puts on his hat as a sense of familiarity and is comforted in this moment by this motif.
Similarities Between Holden Caulfield And Willy Loman
1431 Words | 6 PagesPeople suffering from depression look for control in uncontrollable situations, and in this situation, Holden cannot control that he is leaving, so he tries to find comfort in the control of his appearance with his hunting hat. In addition, the behaviours that got him to the point of
Holden Caulfield Adulthood
1365 Words | 6 PagesPhoebe symbolises everything that Holden wishes to protect from the world, youth and innocence. He speaks fondly of her often, assuring his readers that “[they’d] like her” (67). At the end of the novel, Holden and Phoebe go for a walk and Holden suggests she ride on the carousel (210). Phoebe says she’s too big, but Holden convinces her otherwise and watches her, since he is definitely too big - another sign of how he is reluctantly growing up (211). After the ride is over and Phoebe goes to her brother again, it starts to rain and Phoebe takes Holden’s red hunting cap and places it on his head (212).
Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
1011 Words | 5 PagesHowever, Holden had realized that innocence was inevitably only a passing cloud, and that in order to live life, you must savor innocence while also accepting the "phoniness". " D. B. asked me what I thought about all this stuff I just finished telling you about. I didn't know what the hell to say. If you want to know the truth, I don't know what I think about it. I'm sorry I told so many people about it."
Holden's Innocence
1350 Words | 6 PagesAmid the activities of normal day society, the collisions and situations conferred has fabricated the personalities and thought process of each individual human being, and thus the encounters that arbitrarily shaped today’s society and with that represents the physical embodiment of the discrete people. How the effects entwined with everyday lives can be very shocking to even the most adventurous or exploration of people. Holden’s story is nowhere near the exception of these set base of rules of environments and drastic situations changing him as a character. Take past occurrences that helped contrive Holden as a person as he is now, “[I had] old Allie’s baseball mitt. I happened to have it with me, in my suitcase, so I got it out
Catcher In The Rye Rite Of Passage Analysis
1142 Words | 5 PagesAdulthood is when we mature into a person that continues to live life in reality as we let our childhood and adolescence become a faint memory. The memories, however, taught us lessons of acceptance as we cannot always shape the future. Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye takes a journey through the rite of passage by experiencing the innocence of youth and the phoniness of adulthood.
The Theme Of Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
356 Words | 2 PagesKade Hudson Pereira P. 4 04/18/17 CITR essay Innocence is the state, quality, or fact of being innocent of a crime or offense. In the catcher in the rye, by J.D. Salinger, the novel depicts a young adolescent boy who struggles with innocence and the purity of that innocence. The story is narrated by the very same teen, Holden Caulfield. Throughout the story, Holden is perceived by the reader that he has a certain edgy attitude towards life and adulthood and the loss of innocence that follows. He makes sure to make one point clear through his entire journey and that is that Holden is and assumes his position in the world is to be ¨The Catcher in the Rye¨, a protector of innocence.
Examples Of Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
715 Words | 3 PagesHolden tries to prevent the inevitable, but one must move on with their life, and that is, contributed to the loss of innocence. His hat keeps him safe from the societal horrors that steal one's innocence. So when he has finally comes to grips with the fact that he must become older, and make grown up decisions, he gives his hat to Phoebe when, she takes it out of his pocket and offers it to him, since it was raining, but he says “You can wear it awhile” (Salinger 233), he does this because he wants to protect her now and stop running away from his
Catcher In The Rye Analysis
1035 Words | 5 PagesFrom the outset, I have to say that “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger has been one of the most important and influential pieces of literature I have ever read. At its core, the book is a superb coming of age novel which discusses several extremely powerful themes such as the difficulties of growing up, teenage angst and alienation and the superficiality, hypocrisy and pretension of the adult world. These themes resonated deeply with me and were portrayed excellently through the use of powerful symbolism and the creation of highly relatable and likable characters. One such character is Holden Caulfield whom the story both revolves around and is narrated by.
Catcher In The Rye Loneliness Analysis
1305 Words | 6 PagesWhen the hat is pulled to the front, he cannot “see a goddam thing” and says he’s “going blind” (21). The pain from Allie’s death pushes Holden to seclude himself from a world he sees as cold and ominous. More importantly, it prevents him from looking at his own mind and realizing Allie is the reason he is lonely. As if losing own brother wasn’t enough, Holden also loses the presence of his older brother D.B.. The conflict begins when he leaves Holden by moving to Hollywood, and Holden says D.B. will only “maybe” drive him home after his therapy ends (1).
Holden's Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
1230 Words | 5 PagesHolden’s unusual fantasy metaphorically displays this desire to save children’s innocence on his quest, and literally displays his obsession with death and preventing it, as being the catcher in the rye would accomplish both goals. F. Literary Critics also note that Holden’s catcher in the rye job is a dream of his that he pretends to be a reality to hide the fact that he secretly knows that he is unable to save the innocence of all children. G. Authors James E. Miller jr, and Arthur Heiserman explicitly state that, “Holden delights in circles – a comforting bounded figure which yet connotes hopelessness” (Miller, Heiserman 496). H. The “comforting bounded figure” is Holden’s catcher fantasy that he literally uses to comfort himself against the reality he refuses to believe because it “connotes hopelessness” and he is still too innocent and naïve to accept that. I. Holden possesses this dream as a weak attempt to save the innocence of children and to avoid a hopeless reality of defeat he has yet to accept.
What Are Holden Caulfield's Flaws
904 Words | 4 PagesDuring his short time in Manhattan, just the thought of his yellowness and his gloves being stolen at Pencey Prep depresses him to the point where he decides to have more alcoholic drinks after a night in the town. After a night in which Holden didn’t socialize the way he wanted to, he feels so depressed that he wished he died. These instances are important, because it shows that his feelings are unreasonable, and as a result, his depression affects his rational
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
Theme Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
1851 Words | 8 PagesHolden wishes that people could keep their good qualities by “sticking them into glass cases and leaving them alone.” (Chapter16). While he realises that this is just a fantasy, it does not stop him from wanting to protect the children from falling into the emotional and mental distress of personality changes that occur in the journey from childhood to adulthood. This ties into the
Catcher In The Rye Alienation Analysis
914 Words | 4 PagesIn The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is a teenage boy growing up in the 1950s who feel alienated from the rest of society. His life, in a brief description, seems like the other boys’ around him- expensive prep school, pretty girls, and a caring family- but when one looks closer, it is the apparent that he feels different than the others. His thoughts, interests, and personality was quite the opposite of those around him. In fact, he never seemed to have a place where he belonged.
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