Examples Of Society In Catcher In The Rye
In the book, The Catcher in the Rye, author J.D. Salinger expresses such struggles through a series of engagements with numerous stereotypes and establishments of the American society. Typical of the 1940s - 1950s, that represent facets of society a well as figurative micro rift of these conflicting positions. Salinger’s narrator and protagonist, Holden Caulfield gives different and sui generis perspective of observing this interaction of the adventures of himself. In this book, Holden is preserved within a glass case at a museum for us to reconsider for, unlike the reader whom Holden addresses, the world will not change. Let us now explore an array of these encounters and how they demonstrate the theme of conflict between control and independence as the character of the disorder faced by the protagonist Holden Caulfield. Man vs. society is one of the theories that is talked upon throughout the book. This theory has conversed the most because Holden is trying to defeat his depression but does not deal with it in the way it is normally done. Holden is trying to stay away from society to help deal with his depression. He chooses to protect himself and his family from the …show more content…
But not one person he meets wants to listen to him or tries to understand him unless they are out to take advantage of him. It is the society that does not see him for who he is and what he is going through. He is constantly searching for someone he can relate to. He is wise enough to see through people’s negligibility and façades. He is dissatisfied with what is expected of him and is trying to grow up in his own honest way. The Catcher in the Rye is not about Holden so much as it is about society and its inability to deal with anybody who doesn’t follow the crowd and put up a certain front. In Holden’s case, society creates his problems by imposing rules on the life he cannot play
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Show MoreHolden Caulfield Isolation
894 Words | 4 PagesHolden carries a belief that everyone else around him is “phony” and he is the only “real” person left in the world besides children. This belief which Holden carries throughout the story that others are insincere or fake, causes him to isolate himself by avoiding contact with others. However, this misguided attempt to protect himself only worsens the alienation and loneliness which he experiences. Although Holden desires meaningful relationships and connections with others, he struggles with letting down his protective shield and opening up to others to create those
Why Should Catcher In The Rye Be Banned
763 Words | 4 PagesLike a lot of other books in our curriculum Catcher in the Rye teaches a moral lesson. Throughout the novel it depicts Holden and his struggles society and how he copes with it. The novel’s possible theme is that one should not conform to societal norms and to just be yourself. Holden dislikes people that conform to the norms of society and constantly calls them phony.
Examples Of Character Development In Catcher In The Rye
2081 Words | 9 PagesTo add on, Holden is not one to follow society’s rules. Holden is not the person to be engaged in what society calls “normal” because he is not necessarily a “normal” kid. Meaning, society believes kids around his age are interested in football games(3), going on dates (26), or just going to school (35). Society believes teenagers should attend school, and in Holden’s case, High School.
How Does Holden Connect With Others
734 Words | 3 PagesThroughout “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield shows great difficulty making long and meaningful connections with other people. Holden believes he is the normal one but it is actually the other way around. He holds on to a deep emotional road block of the death of his innocent brother Allie. Holden keeps this dragging around with him which causes him to veer from connecting and having a long term relationship with others.
Catcher In The Rye Grief Analysis
656 Words | 3 PagesIn Holden’s mind becoming “the catcher in the rye “means that he can still catch Allie from falling off the cliff. This is relevant to Holden’s depression because everything around him is telling him to grow up but instead he runs away from it in fear that is will pull him farther apart from his relationship with his brother Allie. Holden is on the edge of becoming an adult which creates more pressure and leads him to
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.
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.
Lack Of Responsibility In Catcher In The Rye
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Catcher In The Rye Research Paper
628 Words | 3 PagesEven though this may be a valid point of view, the life lessons taught to the reader greatly outweigh the old nature of the book. The book discusses Holden’s dead brother, and the suffering that Holden goes through after this event. Holden like many teens today is going through hard times. Everyone goes through frustrations in life, and the book reinforces this idea and makes it clear that people are not alone in what they are feeling. Article 2 further discusses this idea by saying, “[the book] can help readers understand that they aren't the only ones coping with problems” (source 2).
Alienation And Self-Protection In Catcher In The Rye
664 Words | 3 PagesAlienation as Self-Protection in The Catcher in the Rye Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye, there are many themes, motifs and symbols that emerge and develop along with Holden, the protagonist, and the plot. Though the most significant theme is alienation as means for self-protection. In many instances, Holden isolates and alienates himself from his peers and the world in order to protect his morals and his self-imposed superiority. The first evidence of this alienation occurs when Holden speaks to his history teacher, Mr. Spencer. While talking about Mr. Thurmer’s lecture, Holden begins to ponder the “right side”, stating “if you get on the other side, where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s the game about?”
Theme Of Alienation In Catcher In The Rye
1095 Words | 5 Pages“I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall. But I don’t honestly know what kind…It may be kind where, at the age of thirty, you sit in some bar hating everybody who comes in looking as if he might have played football in college. Then again, you may pick up just enough education to hate people who say, “It’s a between he and I. ‘ Or you may end up in some business office, throwing paper clips at the nearest stenographer. I just don’t know…
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
Catcher In The Rye Society Analysis
1146 Words | 5 PagesTherefore, in the end of Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield is the problem, not society, but this is not a surprise because Holden is the most overly narcissistic and selfish characters to ever have the unwarranted and unnecessary fortune of having an entire book written about him. Holden’s perceptions of the world around him say more about him being the problem than society being the problem. Society is what people make of it, if a person surrounds themselves with counterfeit people than their society will appear to be counterfeit to them. Holden constantly complains about society and the world around him, it’s always too much for him, it’s always forgery. “I’m always saying “Glad to’ve met you” to somebody I’m not at all glad I met.
Catcher In The Rye Man Vs Society Analysis
1063 Words | 5 PagesMan vs. society is one of the theories that is talked upon throughout the book. This theory has conversed the most because Holden is trying to defeat his depression but does not deal with it in the way it is normally done. Holden is trying to stay away from society to help deal with his depression. He chooses to protect himself and his family from the bitter adult world that he no trust for.
The Catcher In The Rye Analysis
1433 Words | 6 PagesUsually considered a controversial novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger can often express the feelings of being an outcast and the desire to find a meaning in the world. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, though often complains of the phoniness of the world around him, has a way of creating a deeper meaning within the readers. While the truth may be that Salinger purposely set the story in such a way that the readers will be able to connect with Holden, not often do readers find it easy to do so. While Holden believes that everything around him are wicked and phony, there is part of him trying to protect the innocence of those not corrupted by such phoniness. Although Holden wants to protect and save the innocence of children, can he really do so if cannot protect himself and trust those around him.
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