Catcher: A Fictional Narrative

middle of the novel, he feels that he will disappear or fall into an abyss when he steps off a curb

The novel The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. Salinger, contains many complex symbols, many of the symbols in the book are interconnected. A symbol is an object represents an idea that is important to the novel. I believe the most important symbol in this novel is Holden 's idea of being the "catcher in the rye".

“I swear to God I’m a madman” (149) Holden Caulfield says, revealing the wicked nature of J.D Salinger’s 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. The book follows 16 year old Holden Caulfield in his days spent alone on the streets of New York City after getting kicked out of prep school. During this time Holden goes on an alcoholic rampage, fueled by hate and filled with anger towards anything he sees as phony. The book has been the cause of major controversy since its release, with schools across the country banning it from the realms of teaching for decades. Now, it is read in many high school literature classes because of its alleged similarity to the way teenagers think. The Catcher in the Rye should not be taught to young, impressionable teenagers in public schools because of its rampant profanity, glorification of alcohol and tobacco use, and narration by a mentally ill, generally horrible person.

It is known that humans require interaction between each other. As a result we tend to get attached and depend on them. We tend to advocate others from groups and keep to the same people. J. D. Salinger explores this in his book in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye. This book is beloved by many because it is so easy to connect to, even our generation now can connect to Holden and some of the things he goes through. The story is about a boy named Holden, he gets kicked out of school multiple times, and instead of telling his parents he wanders around New York in search of someone that cares and that he can make a connection with. Growing up is hard, and we need human connection to make through the hard times.

“This sentence I’m reading is terrific” I can be quite sarcastic when I’m in the mood (28)

According to Aristotle, “Man is by nature a social animal” (Aristotle 5). We all need people around us to overcome our problems with their help, support and guidance. Holden Caulfield, from The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger and Angela Chase, from a TV series called My So-Called Life, are teenagers in their bloom of youth. Holden and Angela both have family relationship problems, how they try to overcome their problems is what differs Angela from Holden.

IF YOU really want to know, the first thing you’d probably want to hear about is what happened to me while I was at that goddam place and what they did to me, and what happened between my parents and me and all that crap, but I’d rather not go into it. To tell the truth, that stuff made no difference on me. And besides, my parents would be in way over their heads if I told you anything personal about them. They’re as touchy as hell, they are. What I will tell you about is what happened after I left that goddam place, after that sonuvabitch finally let me out.

J.D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher In The Rye, attempts to show the reader the life of a regular boy with troubles on his mind. The rich and troubled Holden Caufield is that boy. His parents are quite wealthy and want Holden to be successful in life as well, but they do not nurture Holden with the amount of love that is necessary. Holden feels the absence of love, which causes him to suffer a variety of emotional problems. Holden needs direction in his life because he constantly struggles to find the meaning of life on his own. Schools kick him out because he is not able to focus with all these issues in his life. With all this pressure he faces, Holden escapes from consciousness in what appears to be a psychological defect, but is just

In J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is a hero that wants to protect the innocence and health of young children. He is constantly helping other people, whether it is by preserving children from adulthood or protecting their physical well-being; yet Holden never really helps himself, even in the worst times. He takes care of other people more than he takes care of himself, showing that he would risk his own health in order to save other people.

“I couldn’t bear to face you when you hated me that much.” He voice cracked as he remembered how hurt he was when he made you believe all those lies.

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the characters help portray many themes. J.D Saligner creatively infused his work with varying themes. Holden unknowingly magnifies the importance of the themes, of which he is often times oblivious. This novel is sophisticatedly written in a manner that allows us to see all the themes clearly. The themes portrayed in the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger include phoniness, psychological alienation, and futile protection of innocence.

Only half a dozen people occupied the small, dimly lit diner, which suited Booker perfectly because he was not in the mood for company. He sat slumped on a stool, his elbows resting on the scratched surface of the pale-green laminate counter, a glass of beer clutched in both hands. A wrinkled paper napkin lay discarded on an empty plate smeared with sauce; the remnants of a meal he did not remember eating. It was his first serious fight with Tom, and the experience had left him with a dull, painful ache in his heart. An echo of Tom screaming, YOU STUPID SONOFABITCH, repeatedly reverberated inside his head, the validity of the caustic insult adding to his misery. There was no getting around it; he was a stupid sonofabitch. Not only had he offended

The continual blur of the headlights beaming onto my windscreen as a drove along the Story Bridge was blinding. Constantly appearing at irregular increments only to disappear almost instantaneously replaced by a brighter luminescence. The lights were reflective of my life. The problems. The struggles. The incessant issues that I was encountered with.

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of

In Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger creates a unique narration through the way Holden speaks. In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger reveals the inner Holden Caufield through the style of Salinger's writing. Salinger writes the book as if Holden Caulfield speaks directly through the reader, like a kid telling a story to his friends. Like with most conversations, there is more to infer from not only the speaker says, but also how the speaker says it. In the book, readers can infer that Holden is much more than a cynical kid. In reality, he is "too affectionate" and "very emotional" (76), much like his little sister Phoebe.