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Examples Of Religion In Catcher In The Rye

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In CATCHER IN THE RYE by J. D. Salinger, Holden reflects on his thoughts about religion, exposing his distaste especially for the disciples. Holden thinks about Allie's death in this instance, too, as he reflects on Christianity. This quotation is styled in the form of Holden's opinion, which is spoken in vernacular diction. The Disciples of the Bible seem to be trustworthy, ideal citizens. However, Holden believes that they cannot be trusted, even though they are from the Bible and have been with Jesus. This is the case since he deems many people are phonies, and he has no reason to trust them. Like the many phonies he has observed, these Disciples may prove to be different people than they seem. Holden relates his opinion on the religious disciples with the greater …show more content…

In the novel CATCHER IN THE RYE by J. D. Salinger, Phoebe causes Holden to think about his future, which prompts him to compare it to a game in a field of rye. After Holden returns home from Pencey, Phoebe talks to Holden, and he dreams about himself protecting the kids when they "start to go over the cliff". Holden's connection of his life with the rye field is a parallel to the theme of childhood and innocence. The "thousands of little kids" playing in the field represent the joys and innocence of being a kid. However, as the kids grow up, they start to get closer to the edge of the cliff, and risk falling into the abyss of adulthood. Holden is on the edge of the cliff himself, as he transitions from his teenage years to an adult. He does not like the corruption of many adults, which he calls phonies. Because of this, Holden acts as a savior on the metaphorical field of rye. As kids start to veer off into the direction of being a phony adult, Holden "[has] to come out from somewhere and catch them". Holden still wants to hold on to his jubilant past as a child, but as he gets closer to the edge of becoming an adult, the best thing he can do is to help others stay free from becoming a phony

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