What Is The Catcher In The Rye Critical Lens

Inner struggles

Twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, the ticking clock never stops, neither do the lives of about 7,214,958,996 people on this Earth. Each one equipped with their own set of personal strengths and weaknesses, yet out of those 7 billion people, no two people are exactly the same. Some would say you’re born with it in your DNA, and others say it takes time, but what really causes weaknesses with in oneself? Personal weakness is something that no human being can avoid in their lifetime, no matter how great they have it or think they are. Two works of literature that exemplify this idea are Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, which take you through the lives of two teenage boys who think greatly of themselves, yet carry around their weakness like a backpack full of rocks. Weakness is

Holden originally attended Pencey Prep but could never connect with the people around him. He is always criticizing or fighting with others, which lead him to leave Pencey without telling anyone. Holden heads to NYC where he faces many challenges with others and himself, emotionally and physically. Holden finds himself in his hotel room with a prostitute and feels extremely uncomfortable with what he is doing so he pays her and sends her off. The next day he plans a date with Sally Hayes, an old girlfriend, to see a play where he calls her “a pain in the ass” and laughs. To help his mental state, he sneaks into his parent’s house where he visits with his little sister, Phoebe. Holden tells Phoebe he is leaving town and when she begs to come with him. Holden becomes upset and leads her to a carousel, which is where Holden abruptly finishes his story. Holden explains how he is going to a new school in the fall, yet is optimistic about his