Themes In Catcher In The Rye

In J.D Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the protagonist Holden Caulfield portrays the role of a teenage boy that struggles to come in terms with the reality of growing up. As he goes around New York searching for the answers to his problems, he encounters various people that either add to his struggles or help him. It is seen, though, that most of those he encounters add to his complexity with the adult world. This aids him in alienating himself to protect what childhood innocence he has left. Out of those he meets, the ones that had him distance himself most are Sally Hayes, a girl that Holden dates from time to time, and Mr. Antolini, one of Holden’s former teachers. Through the portrayal of the secondary characters Sally Hayes and

“I started toying with the idea, while I kept standing there, of giving old Jane a buzz.” (Salinger 4) Though Jane Gallagher, a childhood friend of Holden’s, is mentioned as a constant motif throughout the work, she never actually appears at all. Salinger chose to use Jane as a motif because she represents childhood innocence and memories, while most that Holden meets represent the phony adult world. Also, even though Holden constantly speaks of talking to her, he never actually does it. This is due to Holden’s hesitation to facing the truth of reality: growing up. Holden never calls Jane because he is afraid that she had changed into someone he can’t recognize. He fears that Jane’s innocence has been tainted and corrupted by the adult world and can’t bear to see the change in fear of changing himself. This was also evident when he was still at Pencey Prep talking to his roommate Ward Stradlater. Stradlater had went on a date with Jane and when he returned to his dorm, he was bombarded with various questions from Holden. “If you didn’t go to New York, where’d ya go with her?”(Salinger 48) This expresses Holden’s clear concern for Jane as he acts like an overprotective father. It was not only his concern for Jane that led him to ask these questions but also his fear that Stradlater has changed and led Jane into the adult

Antolini in order to protect himself as he attempts to run away from his coming fate. Holden sees Mr. Antolini as a last resort of hope from the world since he is noticing the changes within everyone. As seeing Mr. Antolini as the last adult in the world who could help him with his problems, Holden quickly goes to him in hopes of getting help out of his coming depression. “This fall I think you’re riding for一 it’s a special kind of fall, a horrible kind.”(Salinger 207) Mr. Antolini speaks metaphorically to Holden as he is trying to avert Holden from his imminent downfall. Though Holden appears to be taking heed to Mr. Antolini’s words, it is clear that he already knows that it is coming for him though he makes futile attempts to run away from it. This fall that Mr. Antolini is describing is caused by Holden’s alienation in order in protect himself from the adult world. Due to Holden’s lack of secured relationships, he is unable to create secure connections with many of those around him. Mr. Antolini also gives Holden advice as to how to improve his lifestyle so that he doesn’t fall into the never-ending cycle of depression. After his conversation with Mr. Antolini, he escapes reality by going to sleep in hopes all things going well for