Catcher In The Rye: An Analysis

Teenage years are difficult. Time tells this story of struggle again and again. The Catcher in the Rye is a classic novel showing the struggles a teenager goes through while transitioning into adulthood. The main character, Holden Caulfield, is a judgmental and temperamental boy who struggles to see the positivity in life. Throughout the story, Holden searches to find himself, as he feels forced to grow up. He holds onto aspects of his childhood and isolates himself so much that it is even harder for him to transition. J.D. Salinger uses the red hunting hat, the museum and cigarettes as important symbols in the story to convey the themes of transitioning from childhood to adulthood, loneliness, and isolation.

“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.

In “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy who has recently expelled from school, had lost his younger brother to Leukemia and witnessed the suicide of one of his peers, struggles in his journey of coming of age. He isn’t fond of the idea of having to mature and be exposed to responsibilities and problems of the real world. As a result, he tries to preserve the innocence of his younger sister, Phoebe. One way in which he aims to accomplish this goal is through a Little Shirley Beans record which he buys in hopes of giving it to Phoebe. Salinger utilizes the symbol of the broken record to develop Holden’s loss of innocence and deteriorating character.

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.

“You'll have to jump.' 'I'll jump.' 'Jump!' Major Danby cried. Yossarian jumped. Nately's whore was hiding just outside the door. The knife came down, missing him by inches, and he took off” (Heller 350). Yossarian ends his dialogue in a cheery and fun way because he is finally going to be free from the oppression of the US military. This also shows his increased morals, because in the beginning, he would have just killed the girl for trying to kill him. He also uses arrangement to show America at the time like, “ Heller's satirical masterpiece tells us something about the madness of America” (Pilger, John). This shows how the novel portrays the insanity of the war at this time and how these people need help or to get out. The main part of the novel is just the insane adventures Yossarian goes on throughout his horrifying experience.

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel written by J.D. Salinger that occurs around the 1950s. The story’s protagonist and narrator is Holden Caulfield, a seventeen year old white male, who journeys to various places as he mourns over the death of his little brother, Allie. As a white male in a capitalist society, he has tremendous amounts of privileges that allow him to get. However, as the novel progresses, Holden describes his society as a place where honored human qualities are suppressed and capitalist ideals are embraced. Throughout the novel, we see that capitalism, “the social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned”, destroys the overall society for Holden and his generation (Rand).

In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses literary elements such as tone, figurative language, and theme to create the overall effect of a teenager’s cynical and conflicted approach to dealing with the concept of adulthood. Salinger writes about Holden Caulfield, a sixteen year old boy, and his venture through New York City after he is expelled from his preparatory school due to academic failure. During his time in the city, emotional and mental problems surface, and his desperate want for companionship exposes his inability to connect with others.

American literature is full of classic novels containing heroic protagonists; Holden Caulfield of The Catcher in the Rye is not one of these classic heroes. The article Some Crazy Cliff by Arthur Heiserman and James E. Miller Jr. provides one interpretation of the novel suggesting that the protagonist is unique compared to others commonly found in American literature; most heroes are seeking acceptance while Holden is seeking something within the society he is trying to leave. The novel follows Holden Caulfield, a young boy who recently flunked out of high school, over the course of three days. During this time, the protagonist returns to New York via train, but does not want to be with his parents until they have already learned of his

Two novels the first is The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien both published 4 decades away from each other. One is a Historical Fiction and on is Realistic fiction coming-of-age that is going to show how the both novel is gonna differentiate in this essay. The Catcher in The Rye compared to The Things They Carried have different method on how to tackle the characters and objects with going on a different phase

As American society becomes more diverse with immigrants coming from far away lands, different cultures are being introduced into the ever growing melting pot of America. Due to this melting pot and realization that America is made up of many, not one, young adult protagonists have become more diverse in American literature. This diversity in young adult protagonists includes race, gender, class, and sexuality. However, despite the identities these protagonists are associated with, they all have the same inner conflict, knowing where one truly belongs. The inner conflict of fitting in and trying to belong to someone or something has been, and should be continued to be written about since many teenagers struggle with their personality and identity.

Holden shows us his reclusive and antisocial tendencies many times throughout the novel. “So we got back to Pencey around two-thirty instead of around dinner time. The whole team ostracized me the whole way back to the train.” (Salinger 3) This being that due to Holden's actions he was not allowed to be with the group, but he didn’t even try to get back in, showing that this is a usual thing for him to be alone. Moreover, he isolates himself from the rest of the school and wants to be left alone he really withdraws himself from everyone. “I was standing way the hell up on top of Thomsen hill, right next to this crazy cannon that was in the Revolutionary War and all.” (Salinger 2) This really digs deep because, like many other teens who feel like they don’t belong can relate to this showing how being reclusive can further ensure the humiliation of embarrassment does not occur. The Catcher In The Rye Philosophy , a book dissecting Holden goes deeper into the novel and gives many well thought out explanations of, in the book. “Phonies treat the social norm of being accepted by others as if it were a moral norm, that is, they regard breaking social norms as deserving moral blame.” (Watson 91) This quote represents the reclusive nature of Holden and how he differs from other people who he considers phony. In this, Holden has a reason for his

Holden will not apply himself when he returns to school. It is empirically proven Holden will not change his ways because he has been kicked out of multiple schools, he has never followed through on a statement of change before, he makes excuses instead of solving the issues, and even after getting professional help at the end of the book, he still shows no change. This shows that Holden will not change, which is why he will not apply himself when he returns to school. Some people say that Holden will apply himself in school, however, it is empirically proven that Holden will not change and will not apply himself in school.

He sat at the edge of the bed with the pistol cocked in his mouth. He was ready to leave this merciless world, and become a distant memory. He did not know what happens after life, and he didn’t care.

The Catcher in the Rye analysis 1. The Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger and is a fictional story. 2. (on separate page) 3. Three major cahracters & symbol:

After leaving Mr.Antolini’s apartment, Holden is mentally and physically exhausted. At this point Holden feels as if he is dying. In an attempt to save himself, he decides to head west. Before he does, he decides to say a farewell to Phoebe. When they meet up, Holden tells her he is leaving, and she breaks down crying. She tells him that she was going to go with him, but Holden stops her and tells her no. Holden tells her she cannot just drop everything for him, and asked her, “Wuddaya want to do?” (Salinger 227).