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Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And The Bell Jar

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Explore the way ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by JD Salinger and Sylvia Plath’s ‘The Bell Jar’ convey ideas about disaffected youth? Disaffection is the description of someone who is dissatisfied or rebellious, upset with those in authority. Disaffected youth refers to younger people rebelling against society. Unhappy and cynical about the world and they can come across as estranged. When feeling ‘disaffected’ there are also feelings of alienation and a dissatisfaction with society and as an outcast. Both Esther Greenwood, the main character in ‘The Bell Jar’ and Holden Caulfield, the main character in ‘Catcher in the Rye’ come across as disconnected and lost characters throughout however they both feel estranged for different reasons. Holden said “It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed anymore.”. Esther also says “the more helpless you were, the further they hid you”, both these quotes reveals their estranged selves and how they were different from the others in the world. In the 1950s when The Bell Jar was set the expectation …show more content…

A popular belief held by a number of literary critics is that Holden’s parents send him away to expensive schools such as Pencey, because they cannot handle his emotional unsettled he is. He shows his confusion, anger and hurt feelings after Alfie’s death and how he cannot contain his grief. Holden doesn’t understand his own feelings and we learn through; “I slept in the garage the night he died, and broke all the goddamn windows with my fist…” Holden’s violent reaction to his brother’s death reveals his frustration and inability to make sense of the injustice of his brother’s illness. By sending Holden to boarding school, his parents aim to provide him with a safe and stimulating environment, away from the constant reminder of Alfie’s death, however Holden fails to understand the rules of boarding life and

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