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Analysis of the catcher in the rye
The catcher in the rye overview essay
Analysis of the catcher in the rye
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Holden Caulfield’s story begins on a December Saturday at Pencey Prep School in Pennsylvania, where he 's just been given the ax for failing all his classes except English. As it turns out, getting the ax is a frequent theme in Holden 's past. Before he leaves the school Holden runs to his favorite teacher’s house to say goodbye to him. Back in the dorm, Holden goofs around with Robert Ackley, a pimply and annoying kid. We 're introduced to Holden 's red hunting hat, and we meet his roommate, Stradlater, who is getting ready for a date with Jane Gallagher, an old friend and sort-of romantic interest of Holden 's. Holden is not happy about this impending date, but agrees anyway to write an English composition for Stradlater.
Holden can put an end to his judgmental behavior by watching the movie Rocky. Throughout the novel, Holden constantly judges people and calls them phonies. An example of this is when Holden says “I can just see the phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs”(20). Holden does not know much about who he is talking about but finds it necessary to judge them. In the movie Rocky, there is an example of not judging a book by its cover.
In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is a peculiar character portrayed as a skeptic living in “a world of phonies” in circa 1950. These personality traits can be seen through his doubts of society as well as his way of thinking and acting toward others. He also demonstrates a lack of responsibility adding to his role as a slacker. Holden flunks out of school repeatedly and has no desire to confront his parents. He mopes around the city for days, delaying the inevitable punishments he’s sure to get.
Holden says that all he want to do is be the catcher in the rye protecting children from falling. The whole novel Holden makes observation around him that are taking away from children's innocence. This is what upsets him the most the fact that everyone will eventually have to grow up. While he is trying to go get Phoebe he is reminded this in the following quote. “I went down by a different staircase, and I saw another "Fuck you" on the wall.
These few lines from the book are a clear indication of Holdens loneliness. Holden didnt have a good explanation as to why he started crying out of blue, only to say himself that he was depressed and
I have recently read your novel, Catcher in the Rye. I was pleasantly surprised, at how much I could relate to the main character, Holden Caulfield. Being a teenager largely increased the reading experience of reading this novel. Despite the fact that Caulfield is attending a prep school, and I a public, the way Caulfield thinks is much like my own.
Holden Caulfield, a character created by J.D. Salinger or a character created to use as an empty canvas? When analyzed through a psychoanalytic criticism lens, Holden Caulfield is a direct representation of J.D Salinger. The protagonist in The Catcher in the Rye and the author of the book are so alike that’s its even hard to tell whether or not Holden is a character or a real breathing human. The emotion and personality that Salinger packed into Holden can be seen as a cry for help from J.D Salinger, in which he describes his true feelings about life and why he acts the way he does. Throughout the book he describes the people around him as “phonies” and he constantly has well thought out descriptions of anybody he.
Characters in fiction draw the reader in and allow the reader to become involved in the story and understand the writer’s theme. Perhaps the most memorable character in American fiction is Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, published in 1945. The story begins when Holden is expelled from Pencey. He begins a three-day journey in New York City, where he discovers himself. Part of that self-discovery is recognizing how much he cared for his younger sister, Phoebe Caulfield.
People who spoke with Holden, even his sister warned him while he was talking. When Holden was in the nightclub and dancing with Bernice, she said that “Watch your language, if you don’t mind.” (78) and while he was speaking with Phoebe, his sister, she said “Stop swearing.” (185) couple of times. When he’s talking with an adult or talking about adults, no matter who he is talking with, he always uses slang words.
Furthermore, Holden starts to hate all the adults or loses faith in them, calls them phony. Holden has a second thought of becoming an adult he loses hope in his future and it seems to him nothing in the world matters to him anymore. We can see that throughout the book. He smokes, gets drunk, and does daring acts like getting a prostitute in his room. He also tries to escape all this guilt and grief by wasting time with unnecessary people he calls phony.
Holden struggles with growing up and facing reality. There are many examples of Holden’s immaturity that are displayed in many forms such as facing responsibilities, his speech, his actions, and etc. Holden’s outlook on adult life is that it is superficial and brimming with phonies, but childhood was all about looking pleasing and innocent. He wants everything to stay the same and for time to stop. As Holden progresses in age, he will discover more about becoming mature in the
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.
Although Holden is a very intelligent character he finds the hypocrisy and ugliness in the world around him and quickly associates it with the adult world. Holden is a very introverted character who hesitates throughout the book to share information about his life . J.D Salinger makes sure to portray Holden that way to
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.
In this novel, Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is the narrator that goes through a variety of problems. He has dilemmas, but meets/reconnects with people on his quest of life. This novel is more than just a simple story about a protagonist and his life events. This novel follows the structure of bildungsroman. There are four parts to it- character’s growth in social structure, a form of loss, process of maturity, and if the character ends in a new place of society.