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Holden Caulfield Characterization

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“I like to be somewhere at least where you can see a few girls around once in a while, even if they’re only scratching their arms or blowing their noses or even just giggling or something” (3). The narrator, Holden Caulfield, describes an aspect of his character through this confession. Obviously, he is interested in girls and desires them at all times. During the 1950s when this novel was published, having such desires would not have been approved of by the parents of the time due to the increasing social pressures of society. A majority of these adults would have considered Caulfield a terrible role model and would not have wanted the youth to read about him wanting to look at girls. The fact that only seniors are allowed to bring girls to Pencey Prep’s football games made the school even more hated by Caulfield. The reader can conclude from this information that the narrator did not fit the standard conformations of the time period. The imagery of the girls foreshadows other imperfect thoughts of Caulfield and his …show more content…

This question foreshadows Holden Caulfield needing a place to go, since he randomly decided to run away from home without previous plans. Although he is no longer in Pencey, he does not seem to be satisfied wherever he goes and does not find a place desirable to stay in long term. The ducks that he brings up in his conversation are a symbol of himself in a way because no one seems to know where the ducks are going next, but the ducks don’t stay where they are. This is like Caulfield’s situation because he can’t seem to answer the question of where he is going to next, but is sure he is not going to remain in New York for very much longer. For the ducks, it becomes too cold for them to stay there, but for Holden the city isn’t what he was looking for. In the future, he decides he wants to live in a cottage in the middle of nowhere, which is almost the opposite of New

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992 Words | 4 Pages

Emily Muzi 10/29/15 G How Holden Treats Women Holden Caulfield has trouble connecting with everyone but when it comes to women, he views them as objects to admire or protect. He doesn’t feel that they’re smart, nor hold any depth of character. Although, he holds a very intense love for some such as his younger sister Phoebe or his childhood friend, Jane Gallagher. Holden seems to be attached to them and they’re the only people that Holden is psychologically connected to.

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697 Words | 3 Pages

In Chapter 9-14 Holden Caulfield leaves Penecy Prep and heads to New York City. Where he will stay for a couple days before winter vacation starts and he will head home. Delaying breaking the news to his family he got kicked out of school for as long as possible. These chapters are where Holden’s loneliness becomes abundantly clear. The reader is subjected to many long rants by Holden about the company he wants, though he attempts to settle several times.

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1240 Words | 5 Pages

A hero can be described in many ways from Superman’s example to teenager, Malala Yousafzai’s. Holden Caulfield, a 17 year old boy, who flunks out of school, in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is said to follow the Hero’s Quest- that the novel is a modernization of this mythic from. Upon reading this novel, Holden does not seem like the type of person who would be a hero, however his journey overlaps with a traditional hero’s journey in more than one place. Holden’s heroic characteristics tells the reader that anyone can be a hero, in their own way, even with all of their teen angst. Holden follows the first two steps of a hero’s journey throughout the novel.

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As controversial as it is, I found The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, captivating and relatable. In the novel, dysfunctional teenager named Holden Caulfield struggles in the world between childhood and adulthood. He divulges little about his childhood or parents in the novel and seems cynical from the start. His relationships fall apart easily and often at due to his own frailty. He believes the world owes him something.

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738 Words | 3 Pages

Holden Caulfield represents a growing discontent with 1950 America’s “culture of conformity” because he is rejecting going to a good school, seeing girls only for marriage, and not wanting to fit in. First, most Americans want to go to an ivy league school, but Holden Caulfield rejects going to an Ivy league. In chapter twelve of The Catcher in the Rye, Caulfield is at a nightclub called Ernie’s where he makes a lot of observations and overhears some conversations. He says “On my right there was this very Joe Yale-looking guy, in a gray flannel suit and one of those flitty-looking Tattersall vests.

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1695 Words | 7 Pages

The lagoon itself is symbolic of Holden’s longing for an eternal childhood, the frozen state representing a lack of change. The ducks represent the rest of society which Holden fails to assimilate with. Another symbol of this is the Museum of Natural History which Holden enjoys visiting, for similar reasons as the lake. He enjoyed going to the museum because “Nobody’d move.” and “nobody’d be different”. Holden visits this museum twice throughout the novel.

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903 Words | 4 Pages

Holden’s failure to embrace the masculine stereotype is epitomized in his idealized and naive views on romance and sexulaity. When Holden enters the upscale Edmont Hotel and sees a young couple on a date, he remarks, “I think if you don't really like a girl, you shouldn't horse around with her at all …. It's really too bad that so much crumby stuff is a lot of fun sometimes” (Salinger 70). Holden’s belief that a man should not engage in a casual relationship with a woman unless he truly loves her, stands in stark contrast to masculine standards which encourage and congratulate men’s sexual exploits. Holden’s asexual beliefs

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Catcher in the Rye At the end of the novel, Holden Caulfield notes, “.. D.B. asked me what I thought about all this stuff I just finished telling you about. I didn 't know what the hell to say. If you want to know the truth, I don 't know what I think about it” (234). Three major episodes that Holden mentions throughout the novel shows a little of who he is as a narrator; the ducks at central park, the lunatic, and the fight with Stradlater.

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J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is considered a coming of age novel. Throughout the novel, Holden, a confused teenage boy, matures and understands more about himself. Salinger conveys Holden’s increasing levels of maturity by using a variety of symbols. The ducks in central park, the red hunting hat, and the carousel ring symbolize the the development of Holden’s adulthood.

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546 Words | 3 Pages

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.

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The reason behind the sudden consultation was that Holden remembered back when he was studying at Whooton School, before his expulsion, his older friend Carl Luce would secretly share his own sexual experiences with the other boys in his class. “He was about three years older than I was, and I didn’t like him too much, but he was one of these very intellectual guys … I thought he might want to have dinner with me … and have a slightly intellectual conversation.” Moreover, this applies to the idea of Holden Caulfield’s immature sexual view, through his curiosity which he decides to consult someone who bears the expository idea on sexual

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1150 Words | 5 Pages

How can someone shield themselves from adulthood? In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is an antisocial teenager who is constantly flunking out of schools. Holden has a hard time socializing with others and finding people he likes. Flunking out of his third school in a row, Holden decides he needs a break from school before he returns home to disappoint his parents. Holden decides to go to New York City and try to have a good time before his parents realize he has flunked. During his stay there, Holden sees what it's like to be an adult and decides that he is not ready to grow up just yet.

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693 Words | 3 Pages

Catcher in the Rye In the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the narrator and protagonist Holden Caulfield a sixteen year old junior undergoes a series of changes. Holden learns multiple life changing lessons; one of them is you must grow up. In the beginning of the novel, Holden starts out as “that kid”; the one with the parents who expect him to get into an ivy league school, and end up with a kid with no intentions of doing so. At the beginning of the book it is very apparent that Holden lacks motivation; he also has hit rock bottom.

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767 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a deep character that shows(possesses) many personality traits. His character is what connects many readers to him and helps in understanding him. Some character traits Holden possesses are that he is generous, kindhearted, usually honest, very intelligent, makes quick judgements, speaks his mind, is anxious about change, and likes kids. Considering his many character traits, it is easy for the reader to understand and relate to Holden. There are many character traits that I share with him.

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Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.

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