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Character analysis holden catcher in the rye
Holden's character in the catcher in the rye
Holden's character in the catcher in the rye
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Holden Caulfield: Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of Catcher in the Rye, however, he is a very unreliable and troubled narrator. He narrates this story inside a psychiatric ward, where he is speaking to his psychiatrist. The reason for him being in this ward is due to his brother, Allie’s death, and a suicide at one of the four schools he has attended. He is sixteen years old, and has recently been expelled from his school, Pencey Prep.
Have you ever felt like you are frozen, frozen to the point that you are asking people what to do and where to go using ducks as an example? In the book “Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger, Holden, the main character, is stuck in one place where he doesn't want to grow up and what to do in the future. He is getting kicked out of multiple schools over and over again. He doesn't know what to do and where to go, he is frozen in one place. He tries figuring out what to do by asking people what to do, he refers to ducks, and what do they do and where do they go when it gets frozen all over.
Holden goes through many different changes throughout the novel and becomes very different from how he was at the start. Although many would argue that he does not change and that by the end of the novel, there is no development. There is a lot of development as he continues to change throughout the novel and has many different ways of perceiving his surroundings in the end. The main reason he changes is that by the end he thinks that everyone should grow up out of their childhood, he has also gained a deeper understanding of himself, and he is finally prepared and able to fight the real world as an adult. One of the biggest things that Holden realizes towards the end of the book and throughout it is that everyone should grow up out of their childhood.
Was Holden successful in his Journey This is an essay on whether or not Holden Caulfield is successful on his journey throughout the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by Jerome David Salinger. This book shows how hard it can be for teenagers that are going from an adolescent to adulthood. Holden, who is sixteen years old, has been kicked out of several schools. Pencey Prep. was the latest.
The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was about the journey of a adolescent boy finding his way to adulthood. In the book Holden Caulfield was unsuccessful in finding his way to adulthood. Holden’s attitude in the novel throughout his journey was very immature. He also can't accept the fact that innocence can’t be forever protected. Lastly, Holden calls everyone a phony when in reality he is the real phony.
Holden struggles to become the catcher in the rye. He want to do something in his life and just does not know who to accomplish his goal. Holden is faced with certain challenges that he must overcome before he can save anyone. When explaining his dream to Phoebe Holden says,“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” Salinger 191 pg.
Holden is unaware of his problem. When people try to help him he tells them there is nothing wrong with him. Holden wonders why he cannot connect with others. He blames it on other people when the source of his problems is himself. Holden’s past holds him back from connecting with others, but his fear of letting go of his past has him limited and scarred from making new relationships and connections.
When examining the novel further Holden’s deep-rooted problems can be seen. Throughout the novel it is evident that Holden suffers from depression that affects his way of thinking and living a life
After an eventful night of dancing, drinking and running into old acquaintances, Holden walks back to the motel once more. As holden boards the elevator, the operator offers him a prostitute called Sunny for five dollars. Distraught by the encounter he had with one of his brother’s old companions, along with the alcohol, Holden agrees. While awaiting the prostitute Holden begins to recall his other romantic encounters. He discusses how he has had numerous opportunities to lose his virginity, but never did due to the fact that he is unable to determine if he has the girl’s consent .
The idea of having a character that struggles to find themselves is quite a common idea in many books. This is seen in the Catcher in the Rye where JD Salinger puts Holden the main character through different struggles throughout the book to finally realise what his purpose is and what he aims to be. There are many different situations that Holden is put through but they all aim to the same purpose, being a catcher in the rye. Two of the main struggles are his journey into adulthood and to retain his innocence. The second is how he is almost alienating himself from others and very rarely opens up to anybody, and his relationships with people are not great because he thinks of many of the people he meets are phony.
A. Allie’s death causes Holden to become obsessed with death and this obsession makes him believe that growing up and becoming a “phonie” is like dying; this belief that is planted inside Holden’s head when Allie died is what sends him on a quest to preserve children’s innocence and save them from the “death” of growing up. B. Salinger includes the traumatic story of Allies death that happened years in advance to provide an explanation for Holden’s obsession with death and how he sees loss of innocence as equivalent to dying. Allie died with his innocence still intact, so Holden does not want other children to grow up and have their innocence “die”. C. Holden even admits to being mentally unstable after his brother’s traumatic death when he says, “I was only 13, and they were going to have me psychoanalyzed and all, because I broke all
Holden’s Struggle To Find Himself: Throughout the novel, The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger, Holden struggles to find himself and who he truly is in order to be happy. His struggles relate to many things that he does or say in particular. Holden lacks with a social status with women and his family, whether it’s a relationship or being antisocial. Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield experiences the complexities and struggles involved with both physical and emotional relationships.
How Holden matured People go through rough stuff in their lives, such as losing a close sibling. It seems impossible to pull yourself out of the pain and guilt of your loss. It appeared Holden was in the same predicament, but through his experiences in the novel The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger he learns to grow up. Aside from being very immature, holden refuses to grow up and dislikes people who have grown up.
Throughout the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a deep character that shows(possesses) many personality traits. His character is what connects many readers to him and helps in understanding him. Some character traits Holden possesses are that he is generous, kindhearted, usually honest, very intelligent, makes quick judgements, speaks his mind, is anxious about change, and likes kids. Considering his many character traits, it is easy for the reader to understand and relate to Holden. There are many character traits that I share with him.
Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.
