ipl-logo

How Does Holden Present Death In Catcher In The Rye

1067 Words5 Pages

Change is an inevitable aspect of life. However, each person will either accept or unaccept the phenomenon based on the way it affects them. In J.D. Salinger’s novel, Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden is an adolescent who refuses to accept loss, that is a change caused by the death of his brother. The story captures Holden’s thoughts and actions as he makes his way through New York City over the course of a weekend. Salinger makes use of details and symbols in order to show the non acceptance of loss.
A plethora of details help the author portray the non acceptance of the concept of death. Holden shows his denial of Allie’s death through his brash reactions. Upon hearing his decease, Holden “... broke all the windows in the garage ... [and] slept in the garage” (Salinger 44). This displays Holden’s impulsive reactions towards the death, and shows how he refuses to face the loss. The underagged character furthermore …show more content…

Details such as Holden’s impulsive reactions, his parents’ neglect towards him, and his conversations with Allie, emphasize the fact that he refused to believe in loss. Symbolism through the mummy exhibit, ducks, and the catcher in the rye, further exemplify the character’s neglect towards the phenomenon. People cope with the parting of a loved one through different means that suit them. Some indulge in the fact that they are taken from the world, while others do not accept this and continue their lives with the belief that the individual is still living. Although it is traumatic, everyone must experience death at one point or another. It is an inevitable concept that must be accepted at one point or another. Providing one with the proper care and support during this depressing experience is imperative for returning them to their original state of mind. By doing so, one will remain in the world and live their life in acceptance of

Show More
Related

  • How Does Holden Present Phonies In Catcher In The Rye

    873 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the major aspects that shape one’s character, are their past encounters. Within the novel, The Catcher In the Rye, J.D. Salinger tells the story through the first person protagonist Holden Caulfield, allowing the audience a glimpse into this seventeen year old’s chaotic mind. It can be implied that as Holden tells his story, he is in a psychiatric facility due to the toll his past has taken on his mental stability. As the story unfolds, Holden seems to reveal he is just a lost boy struggling to find acceptance in an insensitive world of “phonies.” Throughout Holden Caufield’s teenage years, while the loss of his brother Allie has shone a negative light on his life, Holden’s experience with the carousel helps to impact his life in a positive way.

    Read More

  • How Does Holden Mature In Catcher In The Rye

    917 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger brings us to Holden Caulfield, a young boy going through the transition of childhood to adulthood. Throughout the novel we get to see the journey that Holden is taking and the little symbols that are tied in the novel representing him. Holden has a very interesting perspective about how he preserves the world. He hates change and has this idea that changing into an adult ultimately leads you to becoming a phony and Holden despises phonies. In the novel there are many symbols that expose Holden in ways that he doesn’t want himself to be revealed.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Loss In Catcher In The Rye

    1021 Words  | 5 Pages

    This death shatters Holden’s world, engendering his inability to grasp reality and the need to mature. Likewise, the loss of a loved one shatters my world. The Lord called my grandfather home after several years of battling various health conditions. Whether admitted to the hospital for a stroke or a heart complication, my grandfather consistently stayed positive and continued fighting. I hold on to these positive memories of my grandfather like Holden cherishes his brother’s memories.

    Read More

  • Holden's Greatest Challenge

    706 Words  | 3 Pages

    Holden’s Greatest Challenge In a shocking article, Addictions, lack of motivation, and even suicide can be caused by depression. J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel, The Catcher in the Rye, shows a sensitive, lonely 16-year old who has gone to New York and experiences many dilemmas between himself and other people. Depression is Holden’s greatest challenge because it affects his thinking and actions. Although some may think growing up is Holden’s greatest challenge, it is not since Holden’s daily life is filled with sadness.

    Read More

  • What Are The Effects Of Holden Dying

    851 Words  | 4 Pages

    Someone once said, “The hardest part is not losing a loved one, it is the influence it has on your life without them.” In the novel, “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, the main character learns the effects of a loved one dying has. The loss of a young sibling causes an unstable mother, long term depression, and a desire for all children to stay safe and innocent. At a young age of 13, Holden Caufield starts to rely on himself when his mother begins to have nervous breakdowns, after Holden’s younger brother, Allie, dies. When Holden is describing his mother as he gets ready for his date with Sally, he says, “She hasn’t felt too healthy since Allie died.

    Read More

  • Grief And Death In Catcher In The Rye

    581 Words  | 3 Pages

    Holden writes about how he wishes his brother was still alive and that is another sign of grief still taking

    Read More

  • Symbolism In J. D. Salinger's Catcher In The Rye

    1338 Words  | 6 Pages

    The struggle of adolescence combined with the themes of loss and isolation through one Holden Caulfield. This coming of age story of Holden in J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is a famous all american masterpiece. Within the book, Salinger’s is known for his frequent and detailed use of symbolism from Holden’s hat representing his shield and childlike vulnerability to the ducks in Central Park as a reflection of his subconscious mind trying to get help. One famous symbolism is the small detail of Holden’s right hand, specifically his inability to make a fist gives a window into his character and reflects his current state of mind and his path to adulthood.

    Read More

  • Catcher In The Rye Grief Analysis

    656 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the book, Holden is struggling to get by. The death of his brother Allie has left him in a tough spot. Holden doesn’t exactly know how to deal with this. The different stages of grief are represented through Holden. Holden shows denial and anger when he flashbacks to one of his memories after his brother’s death.

    Read More

  • Flashbacks In Holden Caulfield's Life

    220 Words  | 1 Pages

    Holden Caulfield experiences flashbacks to the traumatic events that have occurred in his life. Holden is constantly reminded of his younger brother Allie who passed away when he was 11 years old. “So what I did, I wrote about… did, and he had very red hair,” (Salinger 38). The reader can see that Holden is constantly thinking of Allie, and that Allie was one of the people in Holden’s life that made him happy. Holden’s ability to remember the vivid details of Allie and his life prove that these traumatic events, occurring upon those who brought him joy, will always be with him.

    Read More

  • Holden's Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

    1230 Words  | 5 Pages

    Holden’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.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Change In Catcher In The Rye

    1022 Words  | 5 Pages

    Change Can Be Good As one grows up they may experience dramatic changes in their life that they wish had never occurred. In The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger, the main Character Holden Caulfield, goes through loss as his life begins to change right in front of him. His brother Allie who Holden was very close with, passes away, and his family and friends are all moving forward with their lives.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Isolation In Catcher In The Rye

    1615 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the novel The Catcher In The Rye written by J. D. Salinger shows that Holden goes through his journey and is depressed because of his isolation from

    Read More

  • Theme Of Death In Catcher In The Rye

    1120 Words  | 5 Pages

    This scene is exceptionally important, as it sets the entire tone for how Holden perceives adults and their attitude towards death, as something insignificant that doesn’t deserve closer inspection. Holden feels that death is being cheapened by who he deems to be the “phonies”. Another allusion to death is Holden’s frequent thoughts about the ducks in central park. He wants to know what happens to them during winter, asking the cab drivers in chapters 9 and 12. When Holden locates the lagoon and realizes that the ducks aren’t there, he starts thinking about suicide.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Motifs In Catcher In The Rye

    1453 Words  | 6 Pages

    Motifs 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 pervasive 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.

    Read More

  • Robert Bennett Catcher In The Rye Summary

    213 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the article, “Overview of the Catcher in the Rye” by Robert Bennett argues that many interpretations of Holden can be taken away from the novel by providing literary interpretations, psychoanalytic analyses, and sociological perspectives of Holden. To introduce his argument, Bennett details on how the J.D. Salinger focuses more on character development of Holden, rather than the overall plot of the novel. To support this, the usage of literary interpretations comes into play. In which, the author provides examples from the text in order to accentuate the positive and innocent characteristics portrayed by Holden. Then, the author continues to support his argument by using psychoanalytic analyses developed by experts.

    Read More

More about How Does Holden Present Death In Catcher In The Rye

Open Document