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J. D. Salinger's Characters In The Catcher In The Rye

1036 Words5 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye is one of the many novels that is banned from schools reading lists. This fact sparked interest in why this brilliant novel even deserves to be put on this list. We must dive deeper in the meaning behind the words and why the author created the characters the way he created them. J.D. Salinger introduces protagonist, Holden Caulfield as a pessimistic teenager who is essentially having a midlife crisis. Holden believes he lives in a world full of phonies and that this fact of the matter makes it impossible for him to grow into who he is destined to be. Salinger brings us on Holden’s journey and the path he takes after being kicked out of boarding school. Holden makes his way far away from his family to New York City in order for the expulsion to be a little easier on his parents. During his time in the big city he …show more content…

He finds himself at bars, sleeping with prostitutes, and coming into contact with old friends, strangers, and even his kid sister, Phoebe. When one makes decisions or speaks, there’s usually a reason behind it. Especially in Holden’s case. A person’s environment and circumstances plays a substantial role when observing the way they act and live out their life. Throughout this novel we will be psychoanalyzing Holden’s abnormal behavior and grasp a deeper understanding behind his actions, thoughts and words through characterization, language, and attention to detail.
With close attention to Holden’s behavior towards the beginning of the novel we can observe that he has a very dark outlook on life. Holden’s brother, Allie has passed away along with the passing of his friend, James Castle and this seems to be the primary reason for his perspective on the world and

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Catcher In The Rye Rhetorical Analysis

828 Words | 4 Pages

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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Stubbornness In Catcher In The Rye

1493 Words | 6 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye In the novel The Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger writes about a teenager struggling to find his place within the existence of the reality of others. Salinger creates shocking events that lay out the foundation of the the main character Holden Caulfield’s life in the novel. Salinger uses Holden’s characteristics throughout the novel such as Holden’s stubbornness to establish a much bigger theme in the book along with many other symbols.

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Holden Caulfield Isolation

894 Words | 4 Pages

Holden Caulfield is shaped to be deeply lonely and isolated by the author despite his interactions with others throughout the story. He is alienated from his peers and his family, as he constantly feels like an outsider looking in. This can be seen in the first chapter when Holden stands on top of a hill looking down on those at a nearby football game. Not only is Holden physically looking down on those at the game but he is also isolating himself from them as a form of self-protection. He does this because he wants to protect himself from the potential phoniness to which he could be susceptible.

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Why Catcher In The Rye Should Not Be Banned

774 Words | 4 Pages

The Catcher In The Rye is a story about a 16-year-old boy named Holden born in New York City. In the story, Holden Caulfield is a teenager navigating his way through the world. The Book has been banned by schools and libraries for years for having specific content that is not appropriate for adolescents and younger students. However, despite these conveniences, the Catcher in the Rye should not be banned from school because Holden is relatable to younger generations and because it teaches concepts teens need to learn. One reason the Catcher in the Rye should not be banned is that Holden Caulfield is the best representation of the younger generation because he deals with depression.

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What Is The Catcher In The Rye Loss Of Innocence

1253 Words | 6 Pages

The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger follows the story of a young adolescent man trying to figure out his way through life. Holden Caufield takes a journey through New York City before he must go home for winter break. Over the course of Holden's journey, he seems to keep going backward and longing for the past. Salinger presents the preservation of innocence by examining Holdens thoughts, behaviors, and past experiences. The natural history museum holds a special place in Holden's heart, reminding him of his childhood years.

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An Alternate Ending to The Catcher in the Rye

1400 Words | 6 Pages

Purpose: To show how a small change in choice could affect holden’s life The Catcher in the Rye is about Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy from New York. The novel starts with Holden, writing in his book, hinting that he is in some sort of mental facility .Even though he comes from a wealthy family,because of his loss of interest in studies,and low grades, he gets expelled from all schools he has studied in .Holden leaves his final school, Pency Prep and decides that he will stay in New York City until his parents learn of his expulsion and “cool down” .Most of the novel is dedicated to Holden’s time in the city, Holden lives in a hotel room for a few days during his stay .Holden then starts meeting with people that he used know, some strangers and goes to places with. From his conversations, he

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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

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Jd Salinger Biography Essay

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Salinger is most notably recognized for his novel The Catcher in the Rye, which some say mirrors aspects of his own childhood (117). The novel starts by introducing the readers to Holden Caulfield, a troubled teen that has recently failed out of Pencey Prep. Instead of waiting to go home Wednesday, Holden decides to leave school

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Catcher In The Rye Central Ideas

422 Words | 2 Pages

In The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, there are many themes that outline different central ideas. Some examples of this are the difficulties of growing up and the fakeness of the adult world. But, perhaps the most powerful central idea in the book is Holden's desire to isolate himself. The reader is first informed of this very early in the novel when Holden is on the rooftop after his fencing game. He was isolating himself from the football game because his fencing team was angry with him for losing the equipment (Salinger 3).

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Catcher In The Rye And 1984 Comparison Essay

672 Words | 3 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye is a story about loner Holden Caulfield who recounts his past few days where he was kicked out of school, left to visit New York, and shares his thoughts on almost everything in his everyday life, such as women and his dreams to be a catcher in the rye. First, to establish the shabby setting, Salinger uses similes. When Holden travels to his former teacher's home, he sidetracks from his original thought to complain about the bed he is sitting on. Salinger writes Holden thinking, "'It is. I was.

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1571 Words | 7 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye tells the story of Holden Caulfield who is a teenager growing up in the 1950’s in New York, has been expelled from school once again for poor achievement. In order to deal with his failure, Holden decides to leave school a few days before the end of the term and escapes to New York before returning to his home for the punishment. Written entirely in first person, the book describes Holden’s experiences and thoughts over the few days he takes for himself. During these few days Holden describes a nervous breakdown he experiences with symptoms of unexplained depression, impulsive spending, and unpredictable behavior. The strongest theme in The Catcher in the Rye is the main character Holden Caulfield 's fascination

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Catcher In The Rye Allie's Mitt Analysis

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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Catcher In The Rye Research Paper

628 Words | 3 Pages

The Catcher in the Rye Final Essay (Draft) In J.D. Salinger's fiction book, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden, a teen living in the 1940’s, experiences his teen years in strange and unusual ways. Holden teaches us that everyone experiences frustrations throughout life but can always manage them. Some readers of the novel believe that the book has lost its significance due to the fact that it was written so long ago.

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Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye

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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728 Words | 3 Pages

He talks to his brother as if he 's there searching for help from him. This novel is about him moving through New York and witnessing this and not wanting to be a part of it, yet knowing he has to fit in there somewhere. Holden grows a very dangerous drinking problem. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, Holden is a lost and depressed boy looking for a purpose in life. Holden believes that growing up is going to cause him to lose all innocence in himself.

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