Catcher In The Rye Theme Essay

The first time that Holden really declares to the reader his tendency of alienation is during his conversation with Mr. Spencer. Spencer

Despite his longing for acceptance, “His efforts to connect with any stereotypical kid his age result in abject failure“(Privitera 204). Salinger thoroughly emphasizes this through Holden’s relationships with Stradlater and Ackley, with both of whom he has a strenuous and artificial relationship, demonstrated by his internal, flippant commentaries on his peers as he discusses them in the book (Salinger 31-40). Holden’s peers ostracize him due to his more introspective and introverted nature, as seen in Stradlater’s angry response to Holden’s reflective response to this writing assignment, saying that he doesn’t “do one damn thing the way [he’s] supposed to”(Salinger 47). These difficulties stem not from deficiencies of his peers, but rather a problem of Holden’s refusal to accept anything different from what he expects, making excuses about his reasons throughout the book to cover his actions. His rationalization of his internal wants and desires impedes any proper connection he could possibly make with his peers. He, “Subconsciously longs to be accepted yet feels he cannot make the connection”(Privitera 205).

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.

As regards the main protagonist, Holden, there are many things to comment on him. From the beginning of the book, we can observe that he is not the typical character that usually appears in books. The first thing that amazes me about him is his way to speak. He uses strange vocabulary and some unusual expressions when he is referring to readers, that is, when he is telling us his thoughts.

Salinger writes holden as a rebellious independent teenager which reflects the mood at the time (this being the 1950’s). Because of this, Salinger’s diction throughout Holden’s story needs to be vulgar and controversial to depict a teen during the 50’s. A case of this type of teen

At that time it was the war and what was going on in Europe. For example, Salinger uses Holden to criticize all the phonies of the world. The war allows Salinger to see things in a new perspective. He uses Holden as a voice to tell his readers that society needs to look deeper into a person and not to judge based on what you see on the outside and that they need to evaluate the people they claim to know. Without Salinger experiencing world war two first hand, he wouldn't have been able to add critical elements in his

“The Catcher in the Rye”, by J.D. Salinger has many major themes that develop based on Holden’s thoughts and feelings. Holden seems to enjoy being isolated, and sees himself as to be superior to others. He often describes other people as “phonies” and claims to know what the people around him are really like. One of the most prominent messages conveyed to readers in the novel is loneliness results in desperation. Holden’s loneliness manifests as a desire to talk to someone he is familiar with.

Holden realizes that he doesn’t like a lot of things because he always feels out of place. Holden is very depressed because he wants to feel accepted by others, but cannot even accept himself and the things he has done. His depressed sate leads him to isolate himself. Holden often wears a red hunting hat to “protect” himself from the world. Holden’s isolation and sadness makes him feel “trapped on the other side of life”( Salinger 8 ).

The entire book is a flashback being told as Holden is in a mental hospital. The themes found in the novel are very relatable to teens today that deal with the same issues even if they are dealing with them in a different time, 62 years later. Holden begins his narration during his last few days at his private boarding school. He’s being kicked out due to his grades but after saying goodbye to his favorite teacher and a few friends he decides to leave early and spend a few days

Throughout the novel, evidence of this novel being a form of social protest is shown when Holden refuses to lower down to society's view of what is “perfect,” and he offers many alternatives to

Salinger’s portrayal of Holden Caulfield in his realistic fiction novel, Catcher in the Rye, reveals the tragic effects of loneliness and alienation on the human psyche. Evidently, as a result of different and upsetting events Holden faces, he suffers immensely. Thoughts of depression and death reveal themselves throughout the novel, and Holden feels completely isolated from true and meaningful relationships. He resorts to abusing substances such as drugs and alcohol, yet this never solves his problems. Without a suitable solution to ending this feeling of complete alienation from others, Holden continually makes erratic and impulsive decisions. The degree to which a person can suffer from alienation and loneliness is immense, and can completely transform a person’s

JD Salinger’s Holden Caulfield, the main character of his novel, is to the 20th century the unforgettably haunting voice of the adolescent at odds with a very troubling world. Holden is an unhappy, rich and lost boy who has done a bunk from his posh secondary school, Pencey Prep, in Agerstown. Holden begins his first-person narrative.

Holden has a mouth full of cure word, not willing to study. He also smokes and drinks as well. It seems to a normal people that he is weird, while actually to Salinger, he is the idealized person who is real common and natural. The childish characteristic of Holden always makes him notice others’ state of mind and difficulty. He is thus willing to help people around him.

Despite the debate that may wage on regarding the status to be afforded J. D. Salinger's writings, the author's books have not quietly faded into obscurity. Although published almost a half-century ago, the author's most famous work, Catcher in the Rye, enjoys almost as healthy and devoted a following today as the book did when it was first published. Because of a self-imposed exile that began almost at the same time the Salinger's career was just taking off, much of the substance of the writer's life—his thoughts, ideals, writing objectives—remain shrouded in mystery. The few writings Salinger did offer up for public consumption, though, provide his audience cryptic clues into his inner most thoughts and

Some of the most prominent writers of the time included T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemmingway, and Virginia Woolf. However, other writers such as J.D. Salinger also reflected Modernism through writing. One of his books that displays the ideas of alienation of the individual and focus on one’s consciousness is The Catcher in the Rye. This book, written in 1951, spans over multiple days in a young boy’s life. It is narrated by the main character, Holden Caulfield (16 years-old). Beginning in Pencey Prep in Agerstown, the story progresses from Holden attending the school to being expelled due to past failures to roaming Manhattan. He is presented as very irritable, troubled, and judgmental. These are just the main traits of Holden that represent the views he has on society and of himself. Holden is blinded by his desire to hold on to his youth and innocence; he can’t see the world clearly because of this division between his conscience and the real world. One of his most prominent peculiarities are his observations of people around him and labeling them as “phony” when, per him, they act superficially. This perspective grows out of him being blinded by his own thoughts. However, as the story progresses, Holden realizes his judgmental attitude and begins to change his perspective on how he sees the world. Salinger subtly, yet effectively, uses the ideas of Modernism throughout The Catcher in the Rye and most prominently displays the ideas through the actions and thoughts of Holden Caulfield.