Literary Analysis Of The Catcher In The Rye

In a span of three days, a young teenager by the name of, Holden Caulfield goes through an experience that is unimaginable by a typical teenager. These life altering events are explained through the first person narration of a classic American novel by J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye. The teenage years are theoretically where children are changing physically and emotionally, and through this confusing and intriguing stage of life, we learn who we truly are and where we fit into this world. Unlike teenagers across the world, Holden’s experiences are quite more extreme to those of others. Salinger writes this novel in the first person point of view. Salinger’s choice of first person point of view allows for the reader to connect and understand

The first person point of view is where the story is narrated by one person at a time. The character in the first person narration is where the character can be telling a story about himself or herself or telling events about what they see or experience. (Writer’s Craft, First Person Point of View) The characterization literary tool is the act of creating characters and their growth through a piece. Characters in a piece can be presented by manner of their actions, speech, thoughts, description, and interaction with other characters through introduction or events. (Literary Devices,

Researching the counterarguments online, a columnist by the name of, Lane Filler, has a different twist of my argument of how Holden did grow up. Filler argues that Holden did not grow up through saying, “If, at a certain time in your life, Holden Caulfield was a hero of yours, you may find out you have far exceeded that teen-angst exemplar in post-adolescent accomplishments: At least I hope so, for your sake, and the sake of your parents.” Filler goes on to make a claim of what Salinger’s opinion of Holden’s growth by saying, “Salinger, in his final 45 years, feels like that teen friend that never let go of the bile and immaturity enough to enjoy being grown up.” (Filler, 2013) Filler makes this counterargument without the examination of the story itself. We both agree upon the characteristics and actions that is portrayed of Holden, that being a protagonist and realist, but Filler is unable to fully see the growth of Holden from the beginning of the story to the