Essay on Holden in The Catcher in The Rye - 1612 Words

The author has put in plenty of themes, messages, ideas, issues, and motifs. The character, Holden Caulfield is alienated from society, is experiencing the painfulness of growing up, thinks that the adult world is full of phoniness, and is sick of hearing about the American Dream from his teachers. JD Salinger has created a book that has raised plenty of questions and controversy towards the readers. The Catcher in the Rye shows how a teenage mind works. JD Salinger has used a stream of consciousness writing style where the character (Holden Caulfield) talks in first person as he presents his thoughts and feelings to the readers. The setting has taken place in the early fifties and the book uses a lot of profane words. The New York†¦show more content†¦Thats all I do all day. Id just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know its crazy, but thats the only thing Id really like to be.† As Holden enters the Museum of National History, his fears change into difficulty. He likes everything easily understandable. He is afraid to admit fear but only admits it in a few instances such as â€Å"Sex is something I just don’t understand. I swear to God I don’t.† Instead of facing adulthood, he traps himself in his own little childhood world thinking about his dream job, catching little kids that are about to fall off a rye cliff. Caulfield’s loneliness is probably one of the main motifs all throughout the novel. â€Å"I felt like jumping out the window. I probably wouldve, too, if Id been sure somebodyd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didnt want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.† As he narrates his time in New York, it shows the readers how he looks for someone that understands him. In some ways, it shows that it is his source of pain and his security. Relationships, intimacy, and sexuality are some of the things he fears the most from the adult world. â€Å"Sex is something I really dont understand too hot. You never know where the hell you are. I keep making up these sex rules for myself, and then I break them right away. Last year IShow MoreRelatedThe Catcher in the Rye: Holden and Modern Teenagers898 Words   |  4 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye: Holden and Modern Teenagers The characteristics of Holden from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, will be compared to the modern teenager.   The characteristics of both sets of teenagers are basically similar, but in some parts, they are different. I chose myself as the modern teenager to be compared to Holden. There will be four major subjects to be talked about in the essay. The main subjects that are going to be discussed in this essay are academics, familyRead MoreHolden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye1416 Words   |  6 PagesIt is evident that the protagonist, Holden Caulfield suffers from depression due to the death of his younger brother, Allie in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. 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Before leaving Pencey, Holden visits Mr. Spencer to say goodbye, but Mr. Spencer confronts him with his lousy exam essay— causing Holden to make up an excuse to avoid Mr. Spencer’s persistent sermon. Holden does not go home; instead he wanders through New York CityRead MoreHolden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye1928 Words   |  8 PagesIn The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield’s story is seemingly aimless and without any sense of direction. However, Salinger brings the novel into focus in the final chapters by introducing the idea of being the â€Å"Catcher in the Rye† from the poem by Robert Burns. Salinger chose the name â€Å"Catcher in the Rye† for the title of his novel, but why? The answer is that Sal inger wanted to emphasize the connection between Holden, the main character, and the cryptic â€Å"Catcher.† Holden confessesRead MoreCatcher in the Rye Essay: The Innocence of Holden897 Words   |  4 PagesThe Innocence of Holden in The Catcher in the Rye nbsp; In J. D. Salingers novel The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, spends several days wandering around New York. During this time, he learns many things about himself. He seems to have some sort of mental problem, but this problem fortunately begins to be less serious by the end of the story. But more interesting that the things he knows about himself are the things he does not know about himself. Holden is constantly holding