Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And The Bell Jar

There’s an innumerable number of things that can drive a person mad. For Holden Caulfield and Esther Greenwood the state of being caught between two worlds proved to be a deciding factor in their spiral of sanity. The Bell Jar and Catcher in the Rye follow the dismal lives of Esther Greenwood and Holden Caulfield. Although the struggle of being caught between two worlds was not the only reason both Esther and Holden become in a sense insane and progress toward a suicidal nature, it was certainly a contributing factor. Both The Bell Jar and Catcher in the Rye thoroughly develop how being torn between two worlds can have a significant toll on a person, which may eventually lead to depression. Both The Bell Jar and Catcher in the Rye are coming of age novels. Throughout Catcher in

Holden’s physical appearance serves as an outward amplification of his struggle within. Salinger illustrates Holden as having half gray hair, which he’s had since he was a kid, and half an unspecified other color on the other side. Holden’s actions are often childish, such as his tendency to lie all the time. Yet on other occasions he acts very adult like, such as smoking and trying to pick up older women. Esther Greenwood experiences similar difficulties in The Bell Jar. Esther is caught between living a conventional life and one in which she could be free, independent, and adventurous. The Bell Jar is set in the 1950s, a period filled with conventional standards and expectations for women. During the 1950s a woman was considered a good wife if she obeyed her husband’s wishes, bore children, and agreed with him on all matters. Esther feels alienated and out of touch from this demanding society. She does not fully share the same rebelliousness as Doreen nor the perkiness and conformity of Betsy. Doreen, Esther’s friend while in NYC, has a nonchalant attitude and a rebellious side.