Catcher In The Rye Research Paper

The novel "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger is very interesting novel in which the main character, Holden, intrigues the reader with his unpredictable actions and upfront judgments of his surroundings. Holden alienates himself to try and help protect him from the outside world and conserve his innocence. He constantly proves this to reader many in times in the novel by, telling characters he feels different, wearing clothing that makes him stand out even though it may make him look stupid, and failing to come through in relationships with characters in the story.

In J. D Salinger 's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the protagonist, Holden, goes through many hardships in his journey to self-knowledge. In the beginning, Holden has to deal with being kicked out of school and not having any place to call home. He is also struggling with the unfortunate tragedy of the death of his beloved younger brother Allie. At the same time, Holden is trying to deal with growing up and accepting the adult world. Throughout the novel Salinger addresses the conflicts faced by a young man struggling with the trials and tribulations of growing up while also confronting personal loss and loneliness along the way.

Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger, incorporates numerous themes. However, the two most important themes throughout the book were innocence and loneliness. Holden’s innocence is constantly changing as he matures throughout the story. Furthermore, Holden has to deal with the effects of embarking on his journey throughout the story with loneliness. Salinger’s message during the 1940’s shows how American society and the growth of the teenage boy remains the same throughout

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.

Thesis: In Catcher in the Rye, Salinger uses symbols to represent Holden’s life, goals and struggles, then connects them together to reveal major themes of isolation, loneliness, preserving innocence, and change.

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever your felt like it.” (pg 25) J.D. Salinger writes in his book, “The Catcher in the Rye”. However, what makes this quote so interesting in this novel is that, for many people over the past 60 years, J.D. Salinger is that author to them when they read his novel. To everyone who has read the book; the main character, Holden Caulfield, is a character we can relate to on a spiritual level. Anyone can understand Holden’s thoughts and actions because the character talks directly to the reader. Unlike some other stories, when reading “The Catcher in the Rye”, the reader doesn’t feel like a third party, but rather more of a close friend accompanying the character. Unintentionally, we converse with J.D. Salinger through the story, and slowly understand what his thoughts and feelings are. It’s a powerful book, and it’s owed to how J.D. Salinger developed the characters, and

Although many critics argue Holden is an outcast, in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye Holden’s journey of isolation and defiance of adulthood is something many readers can relate to.

Innocence is to be free from sin or moral wrong, and purity is freedom from guilt or evil. According to J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, innocence and purity grow weaker with time and life experience. The main character Holden holds onto his innocence and purity for as long as possible before understanding that it is inevitable that he grow up. J.D. Salinger proves that innocence and purity fade with time and age. He proves that life experiences can change a person and compel them to grow up and in turn lose their innocence and purity.

UPDATED Draft of Analytical Paper Title: to be determined When reading a novel, it is crucial to realize what is being symbolized in it. Symbols can bring up main points and get the theme of the novel across to the reader. Motifs are just as important because they convey important objects or events that develop a character. The theme in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye portrays how maturity and struggle go hand in hand.

Holden has just been assaulted in his own hotel room, due to Sunny the prostitute he hired. She was convinced that he owed her five dollars more than what he had paid her. Although Holden thought he did the right thing by not taking her service, and paid her anyway, it was not enough. Maurice the man that hired her for Holden, had told him and Sunny to different prices. This led to a big commotion that could have been prevented if Maurice was not telling his white lies. Maurice himself, took action and had physically came in contact with Holden. Holden was punched, and the man advanced on for a while, and the next thing Holden recalls is,“Then he smacked me. I didn’t even try to get out of the way or duck or anything” (Salinger 115).

In the book The Catcher in the Rye Holden feels that no one really understands him other than his younger sister Phoebe that’s too naive to really understand what he’s saying but she still listens. I too like most teenagers at times feel like no one really understands me, it’s almost like it’s a stage that people have to go through in their lives. While like Holden I have a couple people that I feel do understand me as well, but Holden doesn’t understand why people try so hard to understand him. If Holden Caulfield was a real person he would seem unapproachable and very closed off to the world with the way that acts towards his peers. I however have rare days when I act like this but unlike Holden I’m not stuck in a deep depression that can

Children are always dreaming about that one day when they become an adult. From the eyes of a child, being and adult means freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want. Despite their optimistic thinking, kids do not realize that being an adult actually means losing their freedom, innocence, and joy, and at the same time they must take on lots of responsibility and societal expectations. In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a 16 year-old teenager who is struggling physically and mentally in his very own transition to adulthood. Several times throughout his journey, Holden is given a chance to step into the adult word, but every time he ends up literally falling on the icy road, on peanut

“The first thing you probably want to know where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield crap..” The Catcher In The Rye is a novel written by J.D. Salinger which takes place in the 1950’s in New York and follows the deranged life of a young teenager with tuberculosis. The problem with the teenager, Holden Caulfield, is that he lets his insecurities get the better of him and wants to do something but right before he does it he starts to see all the consequences and by the end he decides to not do anything.He also calls everyone phonies so when they reject him he won’t be affected that much because to him everyone

Holden Caulfield is the main character in Catcher in the Rye. Holden tends to mock and reject society and individuals in his time; however, if Catcher in the Rye were to be written in 2018 many things could be different. The technology in the book would be advanced and the wording would be more modern, many people would speak differently, sayings and slangs could be used more. Holden could still have hatred towards the world and individuals still, but he could use technology to mock kids he has gone to school with like; drama and embarrassing photos.

Children nowadays mature faster than children twenty years ago. Whether this extends from commercials promising young girls that by using said company’s beauty products they, too, will look just like their favorite actress or because of the profanity written on school bathrooms, kids constantly learn new things that prove too complex for their young minds. In his book, The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger writes to exhibit the notion that society encourages children to grow up too quickly.