The Catcher In The Rye: Character Analysis
J.D Salinger’s widely read novel, “The Catcher in the Rye” is an episodic novel that describes in great depth Holden Caulfields three day trip from Pencey Prep, California to New York. During his roam to New York, Holden undergoes many social problems that seem to affect the way Holden behaves and acts. One of the main social issues in the novel is his innocence as he is acclimated to being around adults. In addition, another societal problem Holden faces is sexual confusion as Holden claims he is a sex maniac although, he is still a virgin. Finally, Holden has difficulties with isolation as Holden lives distant from his family and constantly strives to find ways to feel belonged. Therefore, these are all essential communal struggles Holden experiences throughout the novel. To start off with, a central matter Holden faces and seeks to protect is innocence. Holden witnesses a “man and woman squirting water out of their mouths” at each other.Holden’s perception of this reveals to readers how Holden is uncomfortable with sexuality. Holden considers what the “perverts” are doing is “crumby behaviour.” He believes that people should only be having sex if they care deeply for each other. In Holden 's mind anything that is sexual to him is perverted. Moreover, another event justifying how innocence affects Holden is when he notices an old “distinguished looking guy” dressing into “silk stockings, high heeled shoes” and brassiere smoking a cigarette. Holden is baffled by
Themes In Something Wicked This Way Comes
983 Words | 4 PagesThere are three main things that display Holden’s loss of innocence: his excessive drinking and smoking, leaving for three days and not contacting anyone, and Sunny the prostitute. When Holden is drinking and smoking, it shows how much h doesn’t care about his own health and how he’s more mature than others his age. When he doesn’t contact anyone it shows how he believes he can take care of himself and is an adult, much like when he interacts with Sunny. Holden helps many of the children who he meets keep their innocence because he has lost his. In An Analysis of the Adolescent Problems in The Catcher in the Rye, Lingdi Chen says that Holden sees the protection of children’s innocence as a primary virtue and that he enjoys being with Jane Gallagher and Phoebe because they are innocent and youthful.
Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence Essay
643 Words | 3 PagesWithin 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.
Catcher In The Rye Rite Of Passage Analysis
1142 Words | 5 PagesThe beginning of Holden’s journey starts with the innocence and naivety of childhood. Childhood is the stage that ignorance is bliss with no care in the world. Holden goes to a prestigious boarding school for boys and he believes that everyone in that school is a phony in some way. Holden is an observant character as he stays in the background, but he can also cause the most trouble. Like a child, he asks many questions and he is very curious to the point that he can be annoying.
Holden In The Rye Character Analysis
1919 Words | 8 PagesBehind the initial judgments of his character, Holden’s makeup entails a gift for profound comprehensions. Even though Holden’s boarding school, Pency Prep, expels him due to his failure in four classes, Holden exemplifies brilliance in abstract thinking during his trip to discern a different interpretation of society. With a deeper understanding of life Holden has a better grasp on achieving victory to make the world a better place, solve problems, and spread happiness. When Holden does not “say or do anything,” it shows him discovering that nativity must be gowned out of at a particular age and maturity level. Therefore, he will not interfere with children learning to fall and then getting back up.
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.
Holden Caulfield Insecurity
1072 Words | 5 PagesThe reader observes Holden’s insecurities when Holden calls the prostitute to his hotel room. He mentions to himself, “I know you’re supposed to feel sexy when somebody gets up and pulls their dress over their head, but I didn’t. Sexy was about the last thing I was feeling. (Salinger 123)” This exemplifies how Holden struggles when dealing with females.
Catcher In The Rye Character Analysis
741 Words | 3 PagesIn the novel, Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield starts off as a very complex character who is very anti-social and has not experienced the real world, however throughout the story within three days he encountered many different things which help him lose his childhood innocence and successfully transition to real-world maturity. Holden does things out of his comfort zone and takes risks which is normal for someone who is his age to mature as he grows older. Because Holden becomes more involved with his sex life, communicates more with others, and shows signs that he wants to go back to school he, Holden is successfully making a transition from his innocent self to real world adult maturity. As a sign of growing up, Holden begins to do more adult-like things like having sexual thoughts and actually having sex instead of being sexually insecure as he was in the past. While Holden is on a train, his friends mother sits next to him and as they are talking he says to himself, “She had quite a lot of sex appeal, too, if you really want to know” (63).
Female Characters In Catcher In The Rye
1051 Words | 5 PagesHe believes that girls are fascinating, yet, objectifies them. To illustrate, when Holden meets a prostitute, he “kept hoping she’d be good-looking” (TRC, 101), still, “sort of just wanted to get it over with” (TRC, 101,102). However, Holden relates well with children, and it may be because they are innocent, and does not sexualize them. Holden sees a boy who sings “If a body catch a body coming through the rye” (TRC, X) and that makes Holden “feel better” and “not so depressed anymore” (TRC, 125). The song (mistaken) gives him direction.
The Catcher In The Rye Analysis
176 Words | 1 PagesThe author uses lots of reporting to develop his point of view. He thinks the football team does good and its important. He says, " "That 1988 season is four and a half minutes away," Gaines said quietly with a little smile still on his lips. " Let's have a great one." Also "At the very sight of the team at the edge of the stadium, hundreds of elementary school kids started squealing in delight.
Holden's Loss Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye
707 Words | 3 PagesHolden Caulfield’s early loss of innocence causes him to fiercely guard the innocence of others, resulting in pain for him when he realizes that his attempts are futile. Holden’s negative experiences with the adults in his life lead to his valuing the idea of innocence. Despite his bad role models, Holden clings to the concept that integrity is the most important quality in a person. While reflecting on one of his old boarding schools, he expresses his dislike for its “phony” headmaster, Mr. Haas. He complains, “[O]ld Haas went around shaking hands with everybody's parents when they drove up to school.
Holden Caulfield Isolation
894 Words | 4 PagesThis is displayed in how he perceives sex as a commitment on an emotional level and is recoiled by the idea of it. This is seen in Holden’s behavior towards the prostitute in New York as he reveals his aversion to physical relationships through his refusal to have sex with her. Holden’s reluctance to engage with others on a deep level physically or emotionally is not only tailored to his fear of physical commitment, but it also stems from his destained perception of the complexities and unpredictability of the adult world. The unpredictability of the adult world is the driving force behind why Holden alienates himself as a form of self-protection when pertaining to relationships with others. He fears that within these relationships he will indirectly become phony because of similarities between the relationship and the phoniness of the adult world.
Holden Caulfield Conflicts
1264 Words | 6 PagesHe spends the whole book trying to figure out how to navigate through childhood to adulthood. These adolescent problems include Holden’s protection of innocence, his disgust for the phoniness of the adult world, and his alienation from society. The books show that these problems have a great impact on him. Holden behaves almost erratically and impulsively and has negative attitudes towards almost everything and everyone he meets. Throughout the novel, Holden sees the protection of innocence, especially of children as a primary virtue.
Rhetorical Analysis Of The Catcher In The Rye
623 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the passage, Holden reiterates memories of Phoebe's past and the “prettiness” that she exudes. Both of which, reveal Holden’s fear of growing up and becoming an adult. Additionally, Salinger’s symbolic use of Phoebe's red hair and her impulsive behavior reveal Holden’s longing for the innocence and carefree life that is enjoyed by his younger sister. Holden’s preoccupation with Phoebe as a child and his dismissiveness of qualities that are like an adult reveals his fear of letting go of youth and a life without responsibility that comes with being a
Stubbornness In Catcher In The Rye
1493 Words | 6 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye In the novel The Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger writes about a teenager struggling to find his place within the existence of the reality of others. Salinger creates shocking events that lay out the foundation of the the main character Holden Caulfield’s life in the novel. Salinger uses Holden’s characteristics throughout the novel such as Holden’s stubbornness to establish a much bigger theme in the book along with many other symbols.
Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye
837 Words | 4 PagesHolden struggles with growing up and facing reality. There are many examples of Holden’s immaturity that are displayed in many forms such as facing responsibilities, his speech, his actions, and etc. Holden’s outlook on adult life is that it is superficial and brimming with phonies, but childhood was all about looking pleasing and innocent. He wants everything to stay the same and for time to stop. As Holden progresses in age, he will discover more about becoming mature in the
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