Examples Of Conformism In Catcher In The Rye

Holden Caufield in the story Catcher in the Rye represents a growing discontent with 1950 America’s culture of conformity by not following the “norm”, or what he likes to call phony people. “The culture of conformity” a cultural shift in the 1950’s that caused people, young and old to stop trying to truly be themselves, instead they would start following group norms. The norm was basically you would have to do good in high school then grind away at college to excel there, then you would finish college and get a corporate job and climb the ladder to get to the top. Then you would get married, have kids, buy a house, and live then rest of your life. This was the “formula” most Americans would follow to lead to a “good life” and to become

  J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is a remarkable book that gives readers a unique and perhaps gloomy perspective of the 1950's through Holden Caulfield, a cynical and peculiar teenager. Through The Catcher in the Rye Salinger describes important aspects of the 1950's. Salinger emphasizes several key characteristics of the 50's and criticizes them through Holden. In addition, Holden Caulfield is a very interesting character with several traits that put him at odds with society.

Nowadays, nonconformity, loneliness, and uncertainty are highly relevant due to how expressive in our society. Holden’s red hat, the telephone booth, and the ducks in the pond are beamingly significant symbols of the listed themes. Thus, the symbolism within these concepts are reverent today through the fact that they are day to day situations people face; how to showcase individuality, how to avoid loneliness, and how to be certain as one goes through life.

Salinger wrote this novel in 1951, The Catcher In The Rye was published at a time when the burgeoning American industrial economy made the nation prosperous and entrenched social rules which were to be followed especially by the younger generations.Because Salinger used slang and profanity in his text and because he discussed adolescent sexuality in a complex and open way, many readers were offended, and this caused great controversy once the book was actually released. Holden rejects middle class norms and is very bulgar when referring to things. He faces alcoholism, and constantly smokes. Salinger did not censor himself as Holden Caulfield and the vulgarity itself was enough to challenge the book. Some schools have banned it for including sex and the abuse of drugs. Some people took what was being sad in the book too serious, and John Lennon was actually murdered because his killer believed he was a phony person. Although The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most controversial books ever written, it is still taught in many English classes all around the United States, including all IB schools. Loved by many teenagers and adults for its rebellious characteristics, It is banned for its profanity, sexual content, and violence by many schools from the 60’s to the present.Its Literary importance isn’t lowered and some schools still decide to keep it for that very

The world of fashion has become a way for people to express themselves and show what they value in life. Specific elements of fashion such as clothing, jewellery, and other accessories are worn for reasons such as an attractive look, but some elements can hold specific meaning. This can be a sports team or club, or the meaning can be much deeper. Such is the case in The Catcher in the Rye, a bildungsroman written by J. D. Salinger about a young, sixteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield and his journey throughout New York after he has been expelled from school. The story follows Holden as he struggles to find companionship whilst not being baited into a world of “phonies”. An important symbol - object that represents another to give it a

Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye has been into continuous dispute and controversy since its publication in 1951. Some critics think that Salinger 's narrative of the human plight is engrossing and enlightening, yet incredibly depressing. The leading character, Holden Caulfield, serves as the basis for critical discussion due to his psychological conflict. Salinger 's portrayal of Holden, which encloses incidents of dejection, nervous breakdown, impulsive spending, sexual exploration, and other wandering behavior, have all assist to the controversial nature of the novel. Yet the novel is praised by its piercing advocates, who argue that it is a critical look at the problems facing American youth during the 1950 's.

Salinger was born in New York in 1919 and wrote The Catcher in the Rye in 1951, and the values in the book reflected values in America at that time. A major value which society followed during that era

“Facing evil” grows to be a very grand issue in our lives, it is the fine line between choice and demand, it is what separates the conformist from the non-conformist. This is specifically shown in the novel “The Catcher In The Rye” by J.D Salinger. Holden Caulfield, being someone who is unique, strong in his beliefs and ideals, shows sufficient proof to portray how development is represented on account of experience. After further examination of Holden’s fight with Stradlater, James Castle’s sucidie, and Holden’s incident with Maurice, it will clearly be proven that Holden Caulfield developed as a character through various incidents that involve violence.

Throughout Catcher In The Rye, Holden distances himself from phonies or fakers, not knowing Holden himself is a phony. The Barbie doll placed in front of the painted mirror is a symbol of Holden’s hypocrisy. Holden deems individuals as phonies if they pretend to be something they are not. In fact, Holden “can’t stand that stuff” and “drives [him] crazy” (Salinger 8).

Holden fails very often because he acts very uniquely in a time that discouraged non-conformity. Non-conformity allows people to express themselves. Holden enjoys being unique, and he actively seeks opportunities to act different than the norms. Unfortunately, the society and people of the 1940s and 1950s limit his non-conformity, so they often alienate him. Holden values non-conformity because he does not often have the chance to show his individuality.

The 1950s were a time of conformity and anyone outside the norms would be deemed unusual or an outcast. Behavior rules included obeying authority, controlling your emotions, and fitting in with your group (Brucker). Holden went against all these rules

Salinger's writing has influenced several generations. So many could relate to the main character in Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, an antihero who spoke like a real teenager and rebelled against conformity. As a staff writer for Spinner.com points outs, Caulfield was punk rock long before punk rock existed. (Spinner.com). This is the reason why so many

Jerome David Salinger’s only novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is based on the life events shaping main character, Holden Caulfield, into the troubled teen that is telling the story in 1950. The theme of the story is one of emotional disconnection felt by the alienated teenagers of this time period. The quote, “ I didn’t know anyone there that was splendid and clear thinking and all” (Salinger 4) sets the tone that Holden cannot find a connection with anyone around him and that he is on a lonely endeavor in pursuit of identity, acceptance and legitimacy. The trials and failures that Holden faces on his journey to find himself in total shed light on Holden’s archenemy, himself.

Considered one of the best novels of the 20th century, The Catcher in the Rye has affected readers around the globe since its publication in 1951. Its contemporary critics, however, gave the novel mixed reviews. Compared to the ideals of 1950s America, Holden Caulfield, the emotionally immature, extremely judgmental, teen-aged main character of “Catcher,” embodies the antithesis. Holden was an affront to the new social order, which demanded conformity and propagated the “father knows best” mentality. Americans, however, despite the postwar economic boom, remained suspicious of authority. In idyllic suburban neighborhoods across the country, while families huddled around their new television screens, people discussed their neighbors’ movements, made distrustful even of their closest friends by the “Red Scare”. The American Dream seemed like a golden ring just out of reach, leaving people feeling like they were going around in circles without a clear destination or purpose. With his sense of nostalgia for better times, his bleak perspective of the future, and his contradictory nature, Holden speaks directly to this sense of confusion at the world that Americans felt during the 1950s.

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel written by J. D. Salinger in 1951. The protagonist Holden Caulfield tells us of an episode in his life where he finds himself utterly troubled and lost. The odd thing about Holden is that he seemingly has a “good life” nevertheless he is severely negative about almost all of his surroundings, mostly of the people he surrounds himself with, in addition to those he meets along his way. This essay will discuss why Holden Caulfield can be seen as a ‘rebel without a cause’. OK