ipl-logo

Examples Of The Catcher In The Rye Belonging Essay

917 Words4 Pages

To achieve true peace and comfort, rather than trying to find love and comfort from others, an individual will search for someone who will give them a sense of belonging. This is seen through the novel, “the Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger where the persona, Holden, is seen searching for someone or a relationship. For example, the Holden tries to form many relationships including romantically, make friends, and with family members. Thus, to belong with a sense of peace and comfort, Holden attempts to interact with others. An individual who wants to achieve a sense of peace and comfort in the adult world will search for a long lasting romantic relationship. Salinger expresses how Golden desires a romantic relationship through the use …show more content…

Throughout the novel, Holden is seen trying to make friends to feel a sense of belonging after a long time of isolation. For example, the direct speech, “yeah. I was defending your goddam honor. Stradlater said you had a lousy personality. I couldn’t let him get away with that stuff.” This displays how Holden wants to impress Ackley by lying to him. Thus, showing how Holden seems to be trying to find a sense of comfort and peace from Ackley after the fight with Stradlater. In addition, the truncated sentence, “she liked me” shows that Mrs. Spencer gives Holden a sense of comfort and peace. By paying a visit, Holden feels like Mrs. Spencer likes him which provides him with a sense of friendship with the older women. Thus, Holden also tries to build a friendship with the women to continue to feel the sense of comfort and peace. Salinger then uses the simile, “then we shook hands. And all that crap. It made me feel sad as hell, though” which shows how Holden did not want to leave. This suggests that Holden feels the sense of belonging when he is with Mr and Mrs Spencer and the thought of leaving them made him sad. Hence, showing the viewers how Mr and Mrs Spencer give Holden a sense of peace and comfort. In summary, Holden searches for people to belong to in order to feel a sense of peace and

Show More
Related
456 Words | 2 Pages

The protagonist struggles to connect with others because of the trauma he has experienced, which is the death of his younger brother. In the following quote, the main character talks to his brother, “What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed." (110) This quote illustrates Holden’s disconnection from others because he is constantly preoccupied with his brother.

Read More
677 Words | 3 Pages

This was the first time Holden showed deeper emotions. Holden up until this point was a negative downer who only talked about his terrible experiences. This interaction though showed Holden in a different light. One where he had the capability to love someone and have deeper feelings for another person. This deeper love repeats itself later in the book with his sister Phoebe.

Read More
201 Words | 1 Pages

Device: Simile Quote: “He snapped his finger very hard on my pajamas. I won’t tell you where he snapped it, but it hurt like hell” (p. 115). Explanation:

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

As Holden searches for authenticity in his relationships with others, Mr. Spencer, Carl Luce, and Mr. Antolini guide him to understanding the importance of trust. Even though Holden has mentors throughout the book, he has to discover that trust is the basis of all relationships on his own. Holden receives a collection of confusing, but relevant advice throughout the story starting when Mr. Spencer, whom tells Holden "Life is a game", hinting that it's hard and competitive. Mr. Spencer continues his conversation by yelling his frustration "what's the matter with you” expressing his uncaring and disgraceful nature hoping to help Holden. Mr. Spencer finally sums up his opinions, making Holden feel uncertain by putting pressure on Holden when

Read More
985 Words | 4 Pages

The feeling that Holden would rather accept the thought of sadness because of him constantly moving from place to place instead of the upsetting reality that he does not feel any sort of connection to anything alters his entire life into a form of a calamity. It is believed by Aristotle that human beings live together not only for the sake of reproduction, but some other purposes of life (Begum, Shagufta, and Awan). In Holden's case, similar to children today, that purpose of life is not as evident in their conscious or subconscious mind. Child disorders can be characterized and influenced in several areas of development such as social interactions and communication skills (Kahn, Ada, and Fawcett). Holden struggles learning to adapt to society- and cannot endeavor to regard other people in a way that allows him to accept their flaws and human limitations

Read More
1039 Words | 5 Pages

Holden seems to be happy and he starts coming around “Although Holden identifies many of the novel's characters as ‘phonies,’ and although it appears at times that he hates being around people, there is evidence to suggest at the end of the book that he does come to terms with the fleeting nature of relationships and human existence, as Phoebe finally provides him with companionship and fosters some brief moments of happiness in his life. ”(Pettineo, Jeff. "Isolation in The Catcher in the Rye.") It seems that once he saw his sister pheobe and got to be with her, he finally felt some happiness. In the end, In J.D Salingers

Read More
943 Words | 4 Pages

Closed off, no stable relationships, no will to maintain having friends how are we supposed to see what Holden feels? In the Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, Holden is afraid of being open with people and not willing to reveal his true thoughts. Throughout the story, Holden’s fears are revealed using strong figurative language. Salinger uses powerful symbolism to show Holden’s inner thoughts and fears of death and change. Holden is afraid of death and also afraid of change

Read More
1107 Words | 5 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye Thematic Essay Imagine living a lonesome life, full of fear and little hope of better days to come. Imagine the toll this would take on a person’s life and how they develop as a person. For Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D Salinger’s classic The Catcher in the Rye this, is his reality. Holden is a sixteen year old troubled boy suffering through major mental issues and living a rather a depressing life for a teenager. Throughout the novel he goes through many hardships that only worsen his depression making him feel hatred towards his seemingly hellish world.

Read More
1615 Words | 7 Pages

When Holden sees him he has nothing bad things to say about him. He says to Sally “‘Why don’t you go on over and give him a big soul kiss, if you know him? He’ll enjoy it. She got sore when I said that’” (Salinger 141).

Read More
1418 Words | 6 Pages

This describes Holden to-a-t, because of his alienation problem, his conflict with “phoniness” and his struggle of growing up and leaving his small problems behind him. Throughout the novel,

Read More
820 Words | 4 Pages

In other words, he is constantly being rejected by those who he longs for. The first example that emphasizes this statement is in the beginning of the story when he goes to see Mr. Spencer. Holden goes to his house in order to visit him and say goodbye to his fellow teacher, considering that he was the only one that he admired at Pencey. Although Holden only came for closer and acceptance from Mr. Spencer, this is not what he received. Instead, Mr. Spencer strictly reminded Holden that he had failed him in his class and even went on to read aloud his terrible essay that he had recently turned into him.

Read More
1322 Words | 6 Pages

In the beginning of the novel Salinger portrays Holden as a antisocial person who is often seen alone and describes the world as a “ world full of phonies” one example of this is at the beginning of the book wherein the

Read More
1035 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the course of the novel, Holden is constantly attempting to find somebody who is willing to both listen and

Read More
728 Words | 3 Pages

(Salinger 23) This shows that Mrs Morrow is allowing herself to be deceived. She 's letting herself think Holden is a soft and sensitive person and it shows that Holden is putting on a

Read More
1305 Words | 6 Pages

Loneliness is a state many have experienced, but it is scarcely felt to the point of insanity and utter hopelessness. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield’s loneliness is a self-defense mechanism from socializing with others, making it the greatest source of his pain. Though his loneliness is caused by uncontrollable external forces, it is only overcome by his own choice of introspection. Initially, Holden did not chose to be lonely.

Read More

More about Examples Of The Catcher In The Rye Belonging Essay

Related Topics

Open Document