Use Of Grief In Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger

332 Words2 Pages
Grief can affect not only the person experiencing it, but also those who are close to him. J.D. Salinger’s novel illustrates this through a teenager’s reflection on a troubled time in his life. The experiences of both Holden and his sister, Phoebe, as they cope with the death of their beloved brother Allie reveal the importance of accepting the death of a loved one, as well as the effects grief has on a person’s behavior and the difficulty of writing a stupid fucking essay at 9:30 at night.
One idea conveyed through the novel is that accepting the death of a loved one is an important step in coping with grief. Holden’s reluctance to accept his brother’s death is evinced by his conversation with Phoebe after he returns to his home. When asked