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Catcher In The Rye Family Is More Important Than All Else Analysis

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Derek Chau Mr. Burkhead 2/21/17 Per. 3 People come and go, but family is forever. In the novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield (the main protagonist) finds his turning point in life transitioning him from an immature teenager to a mature adult. He does so by witnessing Phoebe, his younger sister, happily ride a carrousel in front of him. Readers can understand from the author that he is expressing imagery, tone, and dialogue to prove his message. Through these literary devices in this pivotal moment, the author is expressing the central idea: “Family is more important than anything else.” To start with, the author uses imagery to prove the central idea. For example, during Holden’s essential moment, when he witnesses kids along with Phoebe reaching for the gold ring during their ride on the carrousel. “All …show more content…

While Holden convinced Phoebe to ride the carrousel again after seeing her go once, he was very polite and gentle to her. “Okay. Hurry up, though, now. You’re gonna miss your ride” Holden said (233). From the context, readers see that Holden was being nice to Phoebe when requesting her to do something which was riding the carrousel again just to make him happy. Just like the other examples mentioned earlier, it raises the central idea because it shows how much Phoebe means to Holden. Another thing to bring about is Phoebe being nice to Holden herself, trusting him with her Christmas money before going to the carrousel. “You keep it. Keep it for me please” Phoebe said (231). Of course, this part of the story relates to the theme since it demonstrates a strong family bond between the two characters. Observed by readers, they get the idea of the author using dialogue to explain how family has a strong importance regarding its members. To sum things up, the author also uses dialogue to further develop the central idea of the

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Holden and Phoebe are at a carrousel after having an argument with one another as Holden would not allow Phoebe to come along with him when Holden said he wanted to leave. Before this quote Holden was feeling miserable and quite irritated with life and wanted to withdraw from the society by going somewhere far away. However, because of Phoebe’s obstinate personality he agrees to stay and watch her go on the carousel. While watching Phoebe on the carousel he becomes happy just simply by watching her.

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As a result of this, Phoebe is forced to mature faster than a child her age normally would. Holden notes this on page 217 saying, “She sounds like a goddamn schoolteacher sometimes, and she’s only a little child.” Phoebe has to be more grown up than she should be because she has to take care of herself and those around her. She doesn’t have the same maternal care most children her age do, so she must provide herself and Holden with that care. She takes on the role of almost an older sibling to Holden, offering him advice and money when he needs it.

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Phoebe and Holden have a really close relationship in that they are very understanding of each other and know what each of them likes or dislikes. For her age, Phoebe is actually very mature and knows the troubles that her brother goes through such as getting kicked out of school again. Holden always speaks good things about her and has confidence in what she does. Holden states that Phoebe is really smart and “if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you’re talking about” (Salinger 67). This represents how Phoebe is able to understand her surroundings and any situation that she may come across, which is also the same with Holden because he is always able to relate with people in a different form, even if it is through his lies.

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People around us has a great influence on the formation of our character. The main personage of the novel Catcher in the rye by J. D. Salinger is a seventeen-year-old boy, Holden Caulfield, who appears to be very depressed and lonely. Due to his mental state he failed his exams, again got knocked out from another school, and quarreled with some mates. Through the pages of the novel we saw that Holden was trying to make good relationships with family members and some acquaintances, but at the same time, he pushed them away due to his behavior. He really loved his family, especially his younger brother and sister.

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The only time Holden is truly happy throughout the book is when Phoebe is on the Carousel. The carousel symbolizes the transition from childhood to adulthood. As phoebe was riding on the carousel “ ‘All the kids tried to grab for the gold ring, and so was old phoebe“‘ (Salinger 232). As phoebe reached for the ring, Holden got scared she'd fall off. The fall represents transitioning into adulthood.

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937 Words | 4 Pages

“I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff . What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff. (Salinger, 224)” This quote is very see things to leave out of your paper handout significant in his grieving process because it deals with Holden's relationship with his brother and the denial of him growing up. Past the cliff refers the adult world and this means he wants to “catch” all the kids from growing up.

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He says “If you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you're talking about. I mean you can even take her anywhere with you.” This quote is addressing how Holden thinks Phoebe is perfect and the best sibling he could ask for. Another valuable to thing to Holden is the Museum of Natural History. Holden likes it there because everything stays the same.

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1. Who are you examining (yourself or someone you know)? If you're examining someone you know, what is your relationship to this person (e.g., friend, brother, daughter, etc.). I am examining myself because it is the more difficult task. 2.

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Holden says,“She’s very neat, for a child. I mean she doesn’t just throw her stuff around, like some kids. She’s no slob” (176). Though Holden views Phoebe as innocent and she is significantly younger than him, he admires her. To him she is everything that he is not.

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Phoebe is a child and she is innocent. Holden wants to keep Phoebe innocent because his older brother prostituted himself to Hollywood, the place full of phonies. Holden does not want children to lose their innocence so soon, but he realizes that he cannot save them

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Holden is attracted to the carousel, because it represents a stagnation of his childhood as even the music being played was the “same song [that it played] about fifty years ago when I [he] was kid” (272). He does exaggerate his age, as he’s only seventeen years old, which is an extremely important distinction between him and childhood self. Why? Although Phoebe is first hesitant on riding the carousel, as she portrays it for little kids, she gives into Holden’s encouragement and goes on the carousel. Holden also rejects Phoebe’s offer that he should ride the carousel, to instead just watch her and the carousel move.

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Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, embodies the classic teenager in the process of discovering himself, and how the world works. But, regardless of Holden 's rich, prep school lifestyle, the series of events that have mapped out his life up to this point have utterly affected his emotional well being and perception of the world. Many traumatic events such as the death of holds brother Allie, the death of a class mate, and countless numbers of awkward incidents with adults have all added up to affects Holden 's well-being and detach him from reality. The death of Holden 's younger brother Allie has caused him to confuse his perception of reality and to alienate himself.

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1035 Words | 5 Pages

From 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.

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830 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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She makes Holden reconsider his actions and his aspirations, causing him to come to terms with his desire of being a “catcher in the rye,” keeping children from falling off of a cliff. This represents him wanting to keep

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