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Research Paper Outline For The Catcher In The Rye

1254 Words6 Pages

Lead- [Authors widely use symbols to give the reader a greater understanding of the themes shown in a book. Symbols are the gateway for readers to allow them to recognize a brighter symbolic aspect further deepening the themes found in a novel.] Thesis: In the novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger, Holden resists the process of maturity as he is evidently troubled by adulthood throughout the novel. 1. Museum of natural history: Topic sentence: The symbolic recognition of the museum is that it portrays his inability to accept adulthood. Point: Holden associates the museum with good memories as a child as he admires how the objects inside don't change over time which relates to his resistance to maturity. Proof: When Holden …show more content…

Point: Holden is unable to entirely understand transition into adulthood and accept the fact that he cannot always be a kid. Proof: “Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone. I know that's impossible, but it's too bad anyway” (Salinger,122). Comment: Holden proves that the symbolic meaning behind the museum's display’s appeal to him because he doesn't like the idea of adapting and moving forward. This exhibits how he’d like to be able to preserve certain things forever such as his childhood but you cannot because it's impossible. This shows how holden is aware that certain things are impossible to be avoided no matter how much it makes sense, he’s symbolising that no matter how certain things should stay forever encased and left alone, it's impossible because it's unavoidable. Concluding sentence: Holden is troubled due to his refusal to change. He’s afraid of moving on and transitioning into …show more content…

Holden's thoughts of children finding out what a curse word is makes him believe that this will ‘corrupt’ the minds of children and create a fear towards it. Holden is concerned with the minds of the children because he once was a child and lost his innocence so he tries to preserve other children's innocence by getting rid of the profanity due to its corrupt and filthy meaning behind it which would take away the children's innocence and replace it with corruption. The thought that a child was most likely to take out the act, proves how holden is unknown of the capabilities of children therefore questioning Holden's

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Is Holden Caulfield Reliable

1050 Words | 5 Pages

He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he's a kid until he realizes it doesn't last forever. Another instance of this is when Holden explains to the reader where he says “You take a really smart girl, and half the time she's trying to lead you around the dance floor, or else she's such a lousy dancer, the best thing to do is stay at the table and just get drunk with her. ”(Salinger PDF 44). Holden messes around in things he shouldn't do or even care for but it affects him.

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How Does Holden Grow Up In Catcher In The Rye

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Growing up is difficult and sometimes frightening to imagine as a child. It is not surprising, then, that throughout the Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, Holden is unwilling to mature into a man and accept his responsibilities. Yet, he feels the need to save children in order to preserve their innocence. As Holden is introduced to different characters and places, he labels them into categories, distinguishing what he thinks is genuine and from what has changed. Holden’s view on adulthood is one of discomfort because of the way people are merged into acting, making them phonies that are abhorred by him.

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697 Words | 3 Pages

The museum depicts Holden as a person, as it represents his fleeting happiness, his hate for change, and his pure innocence. When Holden was in New York, he realizes the imperfections and corruption of the world. He sees sexual desires, drinking, and profanity all throughout the city and tries to prevent children from being exposed and damaging their purity. While Holden was visiting the Egyptian section of the museum and becomes the only one left

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Examples Of Mental Illness In Holden Caulfield

1804 Words | 8 Pages

For clinical depression, wanting certain things or circumstances in life to stay the same for an extended period of time is one of the various symptoms. Holden is seen displaying this symptom in his relationship and history with the Museum of Natural History. There are various conditions in Holden’s life that drastically change after the death of Allie, but one of the few key things that stay the same is the Museum of Natural History: “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move... Nobody'd be different.

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Catcher In The Rye Internal Conflict

1032 Words | 5 Pages

If the book is read solely on its surface level, it just seems like a book about an annoying teenager who just complains about everything, but the messages it carries are actually profound. For example, near the end of the story Holden is upset by some profane graffiti on the wall at a museum that says “F*** you” (Salinger 224). He is upset by it because he is worried some little kids will see it and wonder what it means, and then be curious enough to find out adn have their innocence stolen. He finds the graffiti multiple times in the museum. The profane graffiti, if looked at beyond the surface level, symbolises the fact that Holden can not do anything to stop little kids from losing their innocence.

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What Is Holden's Red Hunting Hat Symbolize

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Holden is terrified of the complexity of the outside world and dreams that it could be just like a museum that is frozen in time. Holden wants everything to be simple, understandable, and stay the same over the years, like a museum, even though that is an unrealistic

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Irrational Growth Catcher In The Rye Essay

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Growing up was the last thing Holden ever wanted to do. Though Holden tries utmost to fit in the adult world, but he can’t find the right path to follow to. He sees the world in with a different view of the people and society. The number of people he enjoys being with are as many as how many fingers in a human’s hand. Everywhere he seems to go, he has some bad things to say about it.

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Another example of Holden caring for children is in the middle of chapter 25 when he sees profanity on the wall, he describes, “I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and how they’d wonder what the hell it meant” (Salinger 200). This is another example of Holden wanting to help children and keep them protected. This shows that Holden has good intentions and deserves readers’ compassion. In summary, Holden’s wish to keep children safe shows his good character and worthiness of

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Catcher In The Rye Innocence

1930 Words | 8 Pages

His depiction of the museum demonstrates to the reader an idealized world for Holden, one where nothing ever changes and one where he can understand everything. When describing the museum, he knows where everything is, as well their descriptions. In this depiction of the museum he says, "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody'd move"(page 135). In this quotation it is evident that

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Causes Of Grief In Catcher In The Rye

1017 Words | 5 Pages

Since Holden has gone through a lot of change over the years, Holden has a fear of change. The readers have a difficult time understanding him since his fear of change causes him to become very nonchalant and always wants to stay young, innocent, and never wants to die. One place Holden feels the most comfortable is the museum he visits. Salinger writes, “I knew that whole museum the kid with the skate key meant. I knew that whole museum routine like a book” (Salinger 16).

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Theme Of Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

1851 Words | 8 Pages

Holden wishes that people could keep their good qualities by “sticking them into glass cases and leaving them alone.” (Chapter16). While he realises that this is just a fantasy, it does not stop him from wanting to protect the children from falling into the emotional and mental distress of personality changes that occur in the journey from childhood to adulthood. This ties into the

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Central Park Lagoon Symbolism

251 Words | 2 Pages

The natural human response to a threatening situation is either fight or flight. Holden's first reaction to adulthood is to attempt and maintain a strategic distance from it by entering his own particular world where he is in control. In his novel, J.D. Salinger, uses various symbols such as, The Museum of Natural History, The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon, and The Carousel's Gold Ring, to express the overall theme of his novel which is that growing up can be painful. The Museum of Natural History is one of the most vital symbols of the novel as it represents the state in which Holden desires two always be able to stay in, unchanging. The "museum" is a vital spot to Holden on the grounds that it is a spot where the typical "laws" of the

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Why Is The Catcher In The Rye Bad

531 Words | 3 Pages

Growing older can be seen as a negative or positive thing based on one’s perspective. Although some may see it as a bad thing, in reality it is a good thing that we must all do. The character, Holden Caulfield in the novel Catcher in the Rye, sees growing older as a bad thing which is why he characterizes it with falling. Throughout the entire book, Holden’s view of life is pessimistic because of his view of becoming mature, but why does he view it this way? Holden Caulfield sees getting older as losing innocence and becoming “dirty”.

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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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