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Holden Caulfield Symbolism

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Holden

When something mortifying occurs to you it can really have a negative impact on you when your are growing up. In the novel The Catcher In The Rye, J.D. Salinger introduces Holden as a very troubled student and as a result he is being expelled from a boys College Preparatory School. As a matter of fact the author J.D. Salinger wasn't the brightest pupil in his school “Despite his apparent intellect Salinger- or Sonny as he was known as a child- wasn't much of a student”(Biography). Salinger presents the protagonist Holden Caulfield out to be a disgruntled, rebellious and a problematic adolescent.Which is further explained in the Psychoanalytic Theory which provides a wide selection of information to view the …show more content…

The main character of the narrative has gone through hardship in his childhood, he’s trying to cope with life and unwilling to become an adult can ultimately have a great impact you which is expressed in Holden's behavior, character and sense of mentality

Throughout the novel the author presents a variety of defense mechanism used by the protagonist for example projection. A Freudian analysis would provide a level of understanding of projection as “A defense mechanism involving the projection of one's own unacceptable impulses, wishes and urges onto a person”(Sigmund). Holden tries to run away from reality and live some sort of fantasy world. Therefore when he went on a date with his friend Sally he wanted her to accept all of his wishes and impulses. For example he began to discuss with Sally, Holden stated “We’ll stay in these cabins camps and stuff like that till the dough runs out. Then when the dough runs out I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewhere with a brook and all and later on we could get married or something”(Salinger 132). When Holden got this crazy idea he shared it with Sally thinking she would willingly accept it. Holden got the impression she would accept his offer to go live a fantasy world and …show more content…

According to Sigmund Freud theory “Personality is largely determined by events and experiences that occur during the first five or six years of life”(Sigmund Freud). Sigmund Freud's theory on personality is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult problem Holden encounters as he grows up. In the novel Holden is speaking to his therapist and starts off the book by stating “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like…”(Salinger 1). In making this comment Holden gives insight about his childhood and what it was like which affects his later in his life because it happened at such an early age which segues to Donald's Hall, Physiological Analysis it states “Individuals move through more development stages early in life, and traumas or experiences during that process may have a lasting effects on personality”. In addition when Holden was leaving his hotel he stated “I was sort of crying. I don’t know why”(Salinger 52). This correlates to “The preconscious [that] holds information we’ve stored from past experience or learning … can be retrieved from memory and brought into awareness at anytime”(Sigmund Freud). This demonstrates that Holden was triggered from a past experience Holden just cries out of nowhere because he is constantly jumping from place to place and not being somewhere

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As the book starts Holden describes his childhood and how he has been kicked out of several school and once more again from his currently school, giving a sense of irresponsibility and no care in the world. Holden later on mentioned slowly the loss of his brother due to leukemia and how he reacted outrageously by breaking the windows of his garage home. As a reader one would view that behavior as abnormal, but Peter Shaw descried it as a normal behavior for a fictional character in the 1950s and by mentioning that Holden, “is presenting in a somewhat different manner than are the sentimentalized young people in other novels if his period” (par. 3), admitting that Holden was somewhat of an outcast of a character even for its time he is still considered normal. Shaw also challenged the reader’s view of Holden by emphasizing that Holden is not a real person, but a fiction character developed in the 1950s and in fact a mad psychological character is normal and made the reading rather more interesting and acceptable during that time. As readers someone may come across as understanding Holden’s behavior due to a loss and everyone mourns differently and as Shaw said, “ the one period of life in which abnormal behavior is common rather than exceptional” (par.

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J.D. Salinger depicts his character, Holden Caulfield, as a young man with strong moral convictions. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden constantly comes face to face with situations that test the moral fiber of his character. Each time a challenge presents itself, he does what he feels to be decent and right. His respect for women and intimate relationships comes to light when he confronts his roommate, Stradlater, for disrespecting Jane, Stradlater 's date and Holden 's friend (56-59). He visits his sick professor because he respects the professor’s loyalty to his students (6).

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983 Words | 4 Pages

Holden’s growing up seeing irresponsible drug use, affected the normalization of it which affected his use of drugs as he matured. Seeing these actions by his mother daily enforced this trauma upon him. This shows how his mothers drug addiction, in his childhood home, affected Holden to normalize this idea while maturing through his life. Salinger expresses how childhood trauma affects Holden's mindset when growing up through his character interactions in more ways than one. When faced with intimate situations and sexual interactions among women, Holden becomes frightened.

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1493 Words | 6 Pages

In the paradoxical personality of Holden we discover something much deeper. As Holden makes himself out to be tougher than what he actually is, Salinger introduces stubbornness. Holden’s true nature of gentleness and sensitivity offered throughout the book often brings bedlam into his life, though Salinger brings into

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744 Words | 3 Pages

“‘...we could get married or something. I could chop all our wood…” (Salinger 132). Here, Holden is pressuring Sally to run away with him and live in a farmhouse for the rest of their lives, before even asking her opinion. He didn’t give much thanks to his parents either.

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462 Words | 2 Pages

He is incapable of moving forward and getting closure by clinging to this fantasy and avoiding facing the realities of growing up. It is further demonstrated in the way he interacts with other characters. To avoid confronting his own issues, Holden relies on superficial relationships in the novel to form meaningful connections. When Holden considers his own future he says he does not “feel like going into it” because he is reluctant to deal with his emotions and the challenges of adulthood (224). In avoiding these challenges, Holden remains stagnant and unable to move

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1000 Words | 4 Pages

Holden experienced a very close loss to him of his brother Allie, and he did not take it well at all. “Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD,” (“PTSD”1). The death of his brother could be the main reason for Holden’s disorder.

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Throughout the novel, Holden makes decisions that greatly affect him based on his reckless, morose, and isolated personality. Throughout the novel, Holden makes many rash decisions that greatly affect his life negatively. From the book, “The next part I don't remember so hot. All I know is I got up from the bed, like I was going down to the can or something, and then I tried to sock him, with all my might, right smack in the toothbrush, so it would split his goddam throat open” (Salinger 43).

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904 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”, the protagonist Holden Caulfield demonstrates his unusual behaviour. The narrator introduces the story of an emotionally damaged teenager whose suspicions and personal issues prevent him from being “normal” in a society full of phonies that he does not seem to get along with. It becomes clear that Holden has clouded judgement as he rides an emotional rollercoaster of mood swings with the people he likes, and dislikes. Therefore, it becomes obvious that some of his personal flaws include his distrust, depression, and unreasonable attitudes and thoughts are based on his underlying emotional problems. Holden Caulfield has a variety psychological problems, such as his skepticism, depressive behaviour, and

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1032 Words | 5 Pages

All throughout the book Holden smokes, looks for a way to gain access to alcohol, is lonely and depressed and was even kicked out of school. According to the article Holden is a teenager who is struggling to cope with the loss of his brother. If one were to look at both the novel and this article through the archetypal lens, they would surely be able to see the connection between the

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1142 Words | 5 Pages

The beginning of Holden’s journey starts with the innocence and naivety of childhood. Childhood is the stage that ignorance is bliss with no care in the world. Holden goes to a prestigious boarding school for boys and he believes that everyone in that school is a phony in some way. Holden is an observant character as he stays in the background, but he can also cause the most trouble. Like a child, he asks many questions and he is very curious to the point that he can be annoying.

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1805 Words | 8 Pages

Bell 1 During the Great Depression, the housing crisis forced the homeless to create encampments in shack towns known as Hooverville. The shacks were tiny and poorly built. Hoovervilles, named after President Herbert Hoover, were a visible symbol of poverty and the economic struggles faced by the American people during this time. People living in these communities lacked access to necessities such as running water, electricity, and sanitation facilities. As a result, they suffered from illnesses and diseases that were easily preventable.

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779 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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837 Words | 4 Pages

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

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693 Words | 3 Pages

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

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