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Research Paper On Catcher In The Rye

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Many people do not believe Catcher in the Rye is a relevant book. That is simply not true. Although the novel was first published in 1951, it has many lessons that teenagers and even adults can learn from. The book also shows many struggles that teenagers still deal with. One of the lessons is that you are not always alone. Holden believes that he is alone, but as the story goes on, we see that is not always the case. He feels like no one understands him. Many teens and even adults today struggle with feeling alone. Holden is close-minded and shuts most people out. Now that lots of people have cellphones, it is so easy to shut others out. Cellphones do not help the issue of loneliness, but make it worse. “For many people, it’s become a habit …show more content…

The use of phones has only made it harder for teens to talk to others in person. Loneliness was a common theme throughout the novel. People will always struggle with feeling alone. “I felt so lonely, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead.” (Salinger, 1952). Holden got lost in thinking about the past. He is so desperate for some sort of connection, but before he can make any, he pushes people away. Many teens today can relate to this quote. Lots of people are scared that others will push them away, so they push others away first. This is one of many themes in The Catcher in the Rye that many people, teens, and adults, can relate to today. Holden Caulfield struggles with mental health issues, but he has a hard time expressing his feelings. Many teens do not know how to talk about their feelings, or feel like they have no one to talk to. Since, Holden thinks everyone is phony, he feels like he does not have anyone to talk to. He also believes that if he tries to talk to someone, they will not understand. “‘Yes, sir,” he said. I know it is, I know it is. I know it.’ Game, my ass. Some games. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it’s a game, all right – I’ll admit …show more content…

“His teachers were always writing letters to my mother, telling her what a pleasure it was having a boy like Allie in their class.” (Salinger, 1951). He also describes him as super funny and smart. Holden also stated that Allie was the nicest kid he ever knew. Allie is a sensitive subject for Holden. When Stradlater asked Holden to write his English composition, he decided to write about Allie’s baseball glove. After Stradlater got back from his date, he reads what Holden wrote. Holden was vulnerable at the moment and Stradlater made fun of it and said it wasn’t good. So, Holden ripped up the whole composition right in front of Stradlater. Holden put his heart into the composition for Stradlater, and he didn’t appreciate it. Teenagers today can most definitely relate to the way Holden feels. “Ultimately, though, we tend to bottle up our feelings for one key reason: it seems easier and safer to do so.” (Gould, 2021). Teens tend to keep everything inside because they are scared of being judged or others won’t understand them. Some people believe that The Catcher in the Rye is not relevant because it is such an old book. That is not true at all, because this novel has many important themes that people can relate

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Throughout “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield shows great difficulty making long and meaningful connections with other people. Holden believes he is the normal one but it is actually the other way around. He holds on to a deep emotional road block of the death of his innocent brother Allie. Holden keeps this dragging around with him which causes him to veer from connecting and having a long term relationship with others.

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The Catcher in the Rye Thematic Essay Imagine living a lonesome life, full of fear and little hope of better days to come. Imagine the toll this would take on a person’s life and how they develop as a person. For Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D Salinger’s classic The Catcher in the Rye this, is his reality. Holden is a sixteen year old troubled boy suffering through major mental issues and living a rather a depressing life for a teenager. Throughout the novel he goes through many hardships that only worsen his depression making him feel hatred towards his seemingly hellish world.

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When asked to pen a descriptive composition for a friend who has no time for classwork, Holden begrudgingly agrees, and immediately chooses to write about Allie’s baseball glove. The fact that his first choice of material to draw from was a possession of Allie’s shows how deep his love for his brother is. Holden reminisces about the mitt, saying, “The thing that was descriptive about it, though, was that he had poems written all over the fingers and the pocket and everywhere. In green ink. He wrote them on it so he’d have something to read when he was in the field and nobody was up at bat” (Salinger, 49).

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