Examples Of Ambition In Catcher In The Rye

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the character Holden frequently expresses how sad he is. The cause of his depression varies, starting from Allie’s death to phony classmates to restrictive administration, but all these events and people contribute in Holden feeling worthless. He does, however, have one goal which is to become the catcher in the rye. Although this isn’t an official job title, Holden hopes that he can become a safe haven for children in need of catching. This is a very vulnerable ambition for Holden, because not only is he depressed himself needing aid from others, but connecting a person’s entire purpose of happiness on another person can be very difficult. Holden’s narrow perception of innocence, disable

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. At first, Holden sees the carousel go around in a circle without really going anywhere. This helps depict the immobility of Holden’s life, constantly circulating around Allie’s death. Holden still feels the hopelessness of Allie’s death and the slight desire of wishing that he should’ve died in place of his brother. He wants to successfully protect someone in need.Why? And what is an example of this? But then Holden spots Phoebe, his youngest sibling, reaching for a golden ring just beyond her reach. Although he wants to stop her, because he was “sort of afraid she’d fall off the goddam horse, [he] didn’t say anything or do anything” (273). Holden’s desire to protect and be the catcher for Phoebe is still present, but he has finally realized that can’t always be there. He knows that there might be a chance she could fall and hurt herself, but he also knows that there is a chance that she could actually touch the golden ring and win. As a small child, the chances are still against her, but since Phoebe desires to play it, Holden figures he should allow her. The force pushing Phoebe to become older and Holden to become an adult, is inevitable. This realization makes Holden cry. But rather being tears