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Mentality In Catcher In The Rye

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Different eyes have seen many, throughout the novel of The Catcher in the Rye J.D Salinger, the mindset questioning and some plots of realization. This story is based on a sixteen year old male named Holden Caulfield that has been expelled from Pencey Prep school. Holden begins to understand more and become aware of his own being. Meaning he tries to mature as an adult but becomes more feared of the real world. With a child like mind set, Holden has a very difficult time with growing and maturing. With depth and compassion of a mind, Holden is this one’s topic. Foremost a child mentality that Holden has is what stops him from growing further in life. As Leon Lewis presented, “Holden is at a pivotal point in his life at which the pleasures of a privileged childhood are being …show more content…

I wasn't supposed to come back after Christmas vacation on account of I was flunking four subjects and not applying myself and all.” (Chapter 1,pdf 2/115). Holden was kicked out of Pency for failing all of his classes and not acknowledging the teaching. He failed all his classes but one which was language arts. “You do? Wuddaya mean 'philosophy'? Ya mean sex and all? You mean it's better in China? That what you mean” (Chapter 19,pdf 80/115). Holden asked Carl about his sex life and kept repeating it. This represents that Holden being an immature person on asking personal questions. “The ducks. Do you know, by any chance? I mean does somebody come around in a truck or something and take them away, or do they fly away by themselves--go south or something?” (Chapter 12, pdf 44/115). A child like mind and wondering where the ducks go. A heavy part on Holden that he has not fully grown out of a child state mind. The immaturity and how asked certain questions to others. From talking about ducks, someones personal sex life and being expelled from school. Holden has yet to realize most things that he is doing. Even to messing with most parts of the life soon to be

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(60). Holden’s desperation over the ducks shows that he is also desperate for freedom and guidance. He wants to find the ducks in order for him to know where he will go after he attains freedom. This behavior also shows that Holden

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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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707 Words | 3 Pages

Holden Caulfield’s early loss of innocence causes him to fiercely guard the innocence of others, resulting in pain for him when he realizes that his attempts are futile. Holden’s negative experiences with the adults in his life lead to his valuing the idea of innocence. Despite his bad role models, Holden clings to the concept that integrity is the most important quality in a person. While reflecting on one of his old boarding schools, he expresses his dislike for its “phony” headmaster, Mr. Haas. He complains, “[O]ld Haas went around shaking hands with everybody's parents when they drove up to school.

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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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1264 Words | 6 Pages

He spends the whole book trying to figure out how to navigate through childhood to adulthood. These adolescent problems include Holden’s protection of innocence, his disgust for the phoniness of the adult world, and his alienation from society. The books show that these problems have a great impact on him. Holden behaves almost erratically and impulsively and has negative attitudes towards almost everything and everyone he meets. Throughout the novel, Holden sees the protection of innocence, especially of children as a primary virtue.

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This shows how Holden is his unwilling journey to adulthood but has also embraced some parts of which he enjoys but also as a child he does what he wants without following societies rules (not to be confused with a teen who ignores the rules of

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Each time he crosses a street, he imagines he will "disappear" and "never get to the other side of the street. " I do not take this so much as a symbolic manifestation of "identity crisis" and of his fear that he "may never reach maturity"—although both are implicit—but rather as a literal, psychologically valid description of the boy's breakdown. He retreats into wild fantasies of running away forever, living in a cabin near, but not in, the woods ("I'd want it to be sunny as hell all the time"), and feigning deaf-muteness, all to escape the confusion about to engulf him.”. This analysis by the author clearly shows that Holden has reached his breaking point. The two pieces of evidence used above show and explain how Holden has reached his breaking point.

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This contrasting of ideas emphasizes Holden negative outlook on life. It also explains that Holden's ideas are not those of a young child, this shows that Holden is growing away from his childhood and become an adult. Holden's ideas also illustrate that he is afraid of being an adult because he thinks that by becoming an adult one must act phony and

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1077 Words | 5 Pages

I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over"( ). This is symbolism for Holden, the ducks representing his desperate attempt to cling to childhood. He, just like Craig struggles with this depression that he can't let go. This idea of fear can be related to

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1370 Words | 6 Pages

Holden’s grapple with leaving school and isolation is him raging against the normality of adult life being shoved down his throat. He’s trying to transition from boy to man, but doesn’t want to, because all he sees in adults is their unkindness, insincerity, and phoniness. He fights with the boys at school who are blind to what they’re becoming as they are transitioning into adulthood. He refuses to form into just another phony adult. Unlike every other character, Holden is going through life with his eyes wide open; he sees everything for what it is.

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Holden is emotionally naïve and sensitive; thus, he is frightened by the cruel and corrupt adult society. Instead of

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1076 Words | 5 Pages

Holden is a virgin, and he is very uncomfortable with the idea of sex. He sees sex as something that is dirty and corrupting, and he is repelled by the idea of losing his virginity. Holden reveals that he has “had quite a few opportunities to lose [his] virginity and all,” but he “never got around to it yet” (Salinger 92). Holden claims to have had many chances to lose his virginity but his attitude towards sex reflects his desire to hold onto his innocence.

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1418 Words | 6 Pages

This describes Holden to-a-t, because of his alienation problem, his conflict with “phoniness” and his struggle of growing up and leaving his small problems behind him. Throughout the novel,

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890 Words | 4 Pages

This shows that the Museum is a symbol of Holden’s reluctance for change, in himself and in the world. Central Park is the location where Holden goes in order to answer his question of where the ducks go in the winter. This question could represent Holden’s

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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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