Archetypal Night Journey
In the play A Man for all Seasons, Thomas More embarks on an archetypal night journey which leads to him becoming an existential hero. And in the novel Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is portrayed as an absurd hero who goes on a picaresque journey. This will be proven by looking at what the characteristics of each of the hero classifications are and how the character mentioned fits to this description through his characteristics. First it is important to define what an existential hero is. Kierkegaard (cited by Smith, 2015) claimed that existentialism is the freedom to rule your own life. An existential hero makes his own choices independently by creating a life that is moral (Gutek, 2009: 109). This hero is also accountable for his own …show more content…
This is a difficult journey where he hits rock bottom, literary or figuratively, and experiences an epiphany of someone confronted with own death and dark heart of humankind. Thomas More uses his knowledge and insight to become a hero or achieve his goals. He also serves as a moral example to the viewer. A hero going through this journey suffers from a moral crisis. More goes through a crisis of the conscience. Everyone wants More to take the oath but he feels he cannot do it to his …show more content…
In Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye Holden is not portrayed as a good role model for teenagers, but still he strives to protect the innocent (Salinger, 1946:156). Literary critics and Whitfield (2011: 184) acknowledge that Holden lacks the determination to try and change society. Holden can be seen as too young to make an effort in trying to change society (Whitfield, 2011: 185; Baumbach, 2011: 265). Whitfield (2011: 186) describes Holden Caulfield as a misfit. Even though he is a “misfit” he still tries to make a change; by wearing his red hunting hat; befriending the friendless; respecting those who are kind, loyal and humble. “That’s what I liked about those nuns” (Salinger, 1946: 103). Holden classifies himself as a pacifist (Salinger, 1946: 40; Whitfield, 2011: 193), but he does not hold back on hating everything around him. He is the type of person you would not classify as a hero but then he really wants to save the innocence. “… another … I tried to rub it off…, but this one was scratched on, with a knife or something… It’s hopeless anyway… impossible” (Salinger, 1946: 182). The paradox here is that Holden must first leave innocence to be able to protect the innocence (Baumbach, 2011: 266). Holden does accept full responsibility for his failure in school (Salinger, 1946: 6-13). Here he protects his teacher’s feelings. At the end of the novel Holden can neither save the
How Is Dorrigo Different From The Narrow Road To The Deep North
2275 Words | 10 PagesThe novel while allowing me to gain greater insight into the role of society and expectations in shaping people, also allowed me to gain greater understating of what it means to be a hero, and allowed to reflect and reassess my previously held beliefs. Previously to the novel the image of a hero was something which exuded greatness, an
Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence Essay
633 Words | 3 Pages“some guys spend days looking for something they lost.” In the Catcher in The Rye by J. D. Salinger, Holden is faced with the loss of innocence. The novel is about the journey of this teenage boy in New York who is searching for some kind of reassurance or way to regain his innocence. This loss is represented mainly in his journey, his relationships and his development through the novel.
Is Holden Caulfield Reliable
1050 Words | 5 PagesHe thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he's a kid until he realizes it doesn't last forever. Another instance of this is when Holden explains to the reader where he says “You take a really smart girl, and half the time she's trying to lead you around the dance floor, or else she's such a lousy dancer, the best thing to do is stay at the table and just get drunk with her. ”(Salinger PDF 44). Holden messes around in things he shouldn't do or even care for but it affects him.
How Does Holden Change Throughout The Catcher In The Rye
536 Words | 3 PagesAt one point, he visits a past teacher, Mr. Antolini. After Holden explains everything that happened when he was expelled, Mr. Antolini says he had a feeling Holden was going to have a hard, terrible fall. He also says, “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.” This meant Holden’s fall would be more terrible if he didn’t learn to grow
Holden Caulfield Thesis
236 Words | 1 PagesJ.D. Salinger depicts his character, Holden Caulfield, as a young man with strong moral convictions. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden constantly comes face to face with situations that test the moral fiber of his character. Each time a challenge presents itself, he does what he feels to be decent and right. His respect for women and intimate relationships comes to light when he confronts his roommate, Stradlater, for disrespecting Jane, Stradlater 's date and Holden 's friend (56-59). He visits his sick professor because he respects the professor’s loyalty to his students (6).
Holden's Phonies In Catcher In The Rye
524 Words | 3 PagesThroughout The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, many things trouble the book’s main character , Holden Caufield. Holden is at a point in his life where life isn’t going too well, which is pretty evident, as he’s telling his life story from a mental hospital laying on a bed. His main difficulties include his annoyance with phonies, depression, and loneliness. Holden is a very short tempered kid. He got kicked out of two schools and left one.
Examples Of Thematic Essay On The Catcher In The Rye
1107 Words | 5 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye Thematic Essay Imagine living a lonesome life, full of fear and little hope of better days to come. Imagine the toll this would take on a person’s life and how they develop as a person. For Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D Salinger’s classic The Catcher in the Rye this, is his reality. Holden is a sixteen year old troubled boy suffering through major mental issues and living a rather a depressing life for a teenager. Throughout the novel he goes through many hardships that only worsen his depression making him feel hatred towards his seemingly hellish world.
Catcher In The Rye Innocence Essay
643 Words | 3 PagesIn J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the ongoing tension between maturity and innocence helps show the simultaneous presence of youth’s purity and adulthood’s corruption in Holden’s mind. In his bildungsroman, Salinger illustrates the all necessary struggle of adolescence that strives to balance purity and corruption as Holden comes to terms with the indefinite nature growing up. In Holden 's eyes, very few people in his life are “worthy” of his respect. One example of the innocent and pure and those who receive respect from Holden are nuns.
Societal Flaws In Catcher In The Rye
167 Words | 1 PagesJ.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye tells the heart-wrenching story of a young teenager’s battle to fit in with the world around him. Although Holden Caufield’s privileged life at home and at Pency Prep, is seemingly ideal, he struggles to find meaning. He travels throughout New York City, witnessing human behavior that depresses him. Some of the issues that most trouble Holden are adult phoniness, religion’s phoniness, and school’s phoniness. Because of Holden’s brother’s death, and his own acute intelligence, Holden is better able to see societal flaws.
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.
How Does Holden Mature In Catcher In The Rye
1081 Words | 5 PagesIn the novel, The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, the main character Holden Caulfield tells us his story of his life. Holden is an interesting person, who has many emotions throughout his story. Throughout most of the novel, Holden is very depressed and at times suicidal. Holden tends to reflect a lot on his brother, Allie’s death. Holden is very ungrateful and seems to complain about every incident he goes through.
Holden Caulfield Disillusionment
142 Words | 1 PagesThe postwar setting in J. D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye influenced the main character Holden Caulfield feelings of disillusionment during a time when conformity left many postwar adults fearing communism in a growing postwar economy. The novel illustrates the main characters’ experiences from the time he is expelled from boarding school over a period of three days. Upon his premature departure from the school, due to a fight with his roommate, Holden makes his way to New York City, where he meets various people in hopes of gaining a form of acceptance and understanding from them to help his troubles (Kirkwood 29). As a result, his needs are deprived, as Holden feels he does not fit anywhere; believing that all the people around him are
Lack Of Responsibility In Catcher In The Rye
744 Words | 3 PagesWhen he wandered the city, he attempted to make “friends” with prostitutes, cab drivers, and random people. He stayed at hotels and never communicated with his parents. When he was missing his sister, he snuck into their house to see her, a thing he wouldn’t have to do if he’d told his family in the first place. Holden didn’t give care much for the future, and this shows in the last chapter when he states he might not want to return to school once he is well. Holden’s only desire or career plan was to be a lowly farmer; not exactly a great career choice when your parents prompt you to attend boarding school after boarding school to ensure you have a good career and future.
Plot Advancement In The Catcher In The Rye
618 Words | 3 PagesPlot advancement in The Catcher in the Rye is driven almost completely driven by the decisions of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. The story is told in a stream of consciousness style, which lets us into his head and lets us witness Holden's thought process first hand. Holden is a character with a strong moral center, he never looks to wrong anybody, and that is what drives his decision making. A major idea in the novel that correlates with his moral center, is his need to protect the innocence of the young. Holden knows that the adult world is not as glamorous and great as it might have seemed at first, and he strives to protect children such as his younger sister and deceased younger brother from what he couldn’t avoid himself.
Catcher In The Rye
1142 Words | 5 PagesJ. D. Salinger eminently uses his mid 20th-century writing to create characters who foil teens in the modern day. The act of growing up scares a number of teens, as they are aware their innocence will soon flee them as it once shielded them. The perspective of the world changes from child to adult, which encourages kids to try to save their own purity. Holden Caulfield, a character who struggles with his ability to traverse from an innocent child into a mature adult in The Catcher in the Rye, is created to show the desire many have to try and prevent the loss of their own innocence. This is shown through Holden’s rebellion against the school, his desire to be the “catcher in the rye,” and his distressed response to the graphic graffiti written
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