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Holden Caulfield Catcher in the Rye character analysis
An analysis of Holden from the catcher in the rye
Essay on the themes of the catcher in the rye
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Allie was Holden’s everything, he looked up to his brother and respected him. Holden never really had anyone to discipline him or tell him right from wrong. Even though Holden liked too seem as if he was already older then he actually is, he is still a young kid who needs his parents. Allie was Holden’s angel who took care of him while his parents couldn’t. Holden is a protagonist that has been through many harsh events throughout his
Through Holden’s complicated journey of attempts to reach out to find companionship, or even just someone to talk to, someone he commonly mentions seeming to bring him a sense of comfort is his little brother, Allie, who passed away during Holden’s childhood. Allie is someone Holden deeply cares about, if not the person he cares about and loves the most. One way this is demonstrated is through a writing piece he did for a friend at his old school, Pencey, in which he described the only thing he has left of Allie: “I wrote about my brother Allie’s baseball mitt… You’d have liked him. He was two years younger than I was, but he was about 50 times more intelligent… He was also the nicest, in lots of ways” (49).
After talking about his childhood memories with his brother he states, ¨He is dead now. He got leukemia and died when we were up in Maine, on July 18, 1946. You´d have like him.¨ Then after talking about Allie’s old baseball mitt he said, ¨I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it¨(43-44). Allie’s death is used to show the unexpected change that Holden had experienced during his life. Allie was only eleven when he died, and Holden was thirteen.
Holden still sees Allie was the person he aspires to be but unlike Horatio, Allie is just a memory Holden has. These individuals were the people in both of their lives that always seemed to see passed all the faults they had and helped them became who they wanted to
She described her stepson as, “a loner and quiet and very smart - too smart”. They knew something was seriously wrong with Dylan, but no attempt to help or talk with him about it was made. Both Holden and Dylan needed extra care, their patterns of carelessness, solitariness, and depression should have been
The repercussions of Allie’s death had immediate effects on Holden’s
However, because Allie and Phoebe were too young and innocent, Holden would never criticize them. For Allie, Holden would remember him as an intelligent kid. " His teachers were always writing letters to my mother, telling her what a pleasure it was having a boy like Allie in their class." (Salinger, Chapter 5, Page 38). In chapter 22, Holden describes Phoebe as someone who would always listen. "
After becoming aware of his brother’s death, he is unable to control his anger which leads his family wanting to psychoanalyze him because “[He] broke all the windows in the garage the night he died,and [he] broke all the goddam window with [his] fist, just for the hell of it”(39). Holden’s action of breaking the glasses signifies the importance of his brother life to him. The way he felt toward his brother can not be portrayed by using literary devices, but i can mention that during every baseball he reads Allie’s poem even after years and he talks with him. The importance of Allie’s role in Holden’s life can be traced to his childhood were he didn’t only carried out a role of a brother for Holden but the closed and most trustworthy person that Holden could possibly ever have. Allie’s death seems like the end of life for Holden, he doesn’t know what to do without
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.
While reading Everyday Use, written by Alice Walker, as a reader you come to find out when looking at the two sisters, Maggie and Dee they are as similar as black and white when referring to what they have in common, along with how they’re raised. Throughout the story, it shows the tension between the family and how Dee finds the way to be the center of attention. Also, how Dee’s overconfidence runs her relationship with her younger sister Maggie leading into the shame her family feels while around her. Finally, the different reasons the two sisters know about their heritage. The tension between the Narrator, portrayed by their mom, along with Dee and Maggie is noticeable throughout the story.
In this quote he tells that his brother died. This shows his brother died when he was young. Furthermore he dies as an innocent child who was not exposed to the adult world or the “phoniness.” Allie's death was tragic to Holden but maybe, in some ways Holden wanted the death himself, he wanted to preserve his innocence. Another point that shows Allie's mitt represents innocence is when Holden says Allie used to read poems on his glove while playing baseball which he wrote before the game so he wouldn’t be bored.
Holden’s Struggle To Find Himself: Throughout the novel, The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden struggles to find himself and who he truly is in order to be happy. His struggles relate to many things that he does or say in particular. Holden lacks with a social status with women and his family, whether it’s a relationship or being antisocial. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield experiences the complexities and struggles involved with both physical and emotional relationships.
How Holden matured People go through rough stuff in their lives, such as losing a close sibling. It seems impossible to pull yourself out of the pain and guilt of your loss. It appeared Holden was in the same predicament, but through his experiences in the novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger he learns to grow up. Aside from being very immature, holden refuses to grow up and dislikes people who have grown up.
Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a deep character that shows(possesses) many personality traits. His character is what connects many readers to him and helps in understanding him. Some character traits Holden possesses are that he is generous, kindhearted, usually honest, very intelligent, makes quick judgements, speaks his mind, is anxious about change, and likes kids. Considering his many character traits, it is easy for the reader to understand and relate to Holden. There are many character traits that I share with him.
Holden becomes increasingly attracted to the idea and comes close to obsession, as his mind is flooded with thoughts of death and disappearance, as well as questions which are revealed throughout the novel. Holden experiences two deaths prior to the events in the novel that impact him profoundly. The most significant death was the death of his younger brother, Allie. Allie died of leukemia three years before the events of the novel.
