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Literary Analysis Of Catcher In The Rye

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For many teens, growing up is a time of uncertainty and anxiety. In J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” after a troubled childhood, a teenaged boy is plagued with psychological weaknesses. Holden, a depressed 16-year-old boy, is kicked out of school and decides to have a weekend to find himself in New York City. Through descriptions of Holden’s past as well as descriptions of his involuntary and voluntary reactions to situations in the present, Salinger uses characterization and first point of view to convey the message that Holden’s state of mind is fragile enough that he should be in a “rest home.” Holden’s frail state of mind and his depression began years ago at the time of his younger brother, Allie’s, death. On the day of Allie’s …show more content…

He exhibits that he is feeling defeated by his emotional state and is no longer willing to apply himself. While Holden is having a conversation with his History teacher, Mr. Spencer, he is asked, “Do you feel absolutely no concern for your future, boy?” Holden’s replies, “Oh, I feel some concern for my future, alright. Sure. Sure, I do.” But then as he thought about it, Holden realizes, “but not too much, I guess. Not too much, I guess” (Salinger 17). Holden is in such a bad state of mind that he is not motivated to study and work to enhance his future. Through Holden’s characterization and internal thoughts, a past experience of a classmate committing suicide by jumping out of a window unconsciously affects him today. After meeting with a prostitute and only having a conversation, Holden feels even lonelier than ever. He states, “What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would have done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory” (Salinger 117). Since even death seems like a hopeless option, Holden doesn’t see an escape from the troubles he’s having. It sends him farther into mental illness and closer to being admitted to a “rest

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And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them,” (Salinger 224-225). Holden finds comfort in this fantasy because he is saving children from having to encounter adult life. Holden cannot figure out adult relationships and wants to protect childhood relationships because these are the

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In particular, an instance of Holden’s willingness to die for a noble cause rather than living is his encounter at the Edmont Hotel with Maurice and Sunny, the prostitute who he doesn’t even have sex with. When Holden is confronted by the duo to steal five dollars from him, he speaks out and refuses to pay. His efforts were to no avail though, as he not only gets punched but also his money taken away from him. After pretending to be shot, he finally reveals what he felt like doing, which “…was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window.”

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