Catcher in the Rye

¶ … J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. The writer discusses the isolation that is experienced by the protagonist Holden and how that isolation is illustrated in the book.

In today's world teenagers are said to have a harder time than those of yesteryear. Many experts disagree with this statement and point to J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye to illustrate that teens have historically had a hard time finding their way before bursting onto adulthood ready to live (Elkind pg 24). When teens become lost and isolated, both in fictional works, such as Catcher in the Rye and in real life it is often because they have not had limits or boundaries according to the experts. "Without such limits, values, and leadership, young people drifted into states that bordered on mental illness. Holden Caulfield, the hero of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, is an example of such a rudder-less modern adolescent. " Holden suffered from extreme isolation and as the book develops it is easy to see the path by which it happened. His isolation began because of neglect but by the time he was firmly in his teen years he was the driver of his own brand of being outcast.

One of the first examples the reader has of the self perpetuated isolation that Holden endures during the story is when he is leaving the school after being kicked out. This is not the first school that he has been kicked out of but he is still hurt by its rejection. As he turns to leave however, the reader gets a glimpse of how he continues his self imposed isolation. Instead of gathering addresses of those he enjoyed while attending he makes a blanket and insulting statement to the population at large.

When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddam corridor. I was sort of crying. I don't know why. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddam voice, 'Sleep tight, ya morons!'" (Salinger pg. 52).

Holden's isolation is born of insecurity about himself. Like many teens in the world he is unsure of who he is and how the world will accept him as he makes his way through life. Many teens are unsure of themselves and Holden's years of isolation have caused him to feel unacceptable by polite society. This is displayed throughout the book and is evidenced in the way he views those who have succeeded at their accomplishments in life. "He's so good he's almost corny, in fact. I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it. I certainly like to hear him play, but sometimes you feel like turning his goddam piano over. I think it's because sometimes when he plays, he sounds like the kind of guy that won't talk to you unless you're a big shot." (Salinger pg. 80).

Holden illustrates his isolation with the surly attitude that is so familiar with unguided teenagers today as well. He displays anger at anyone who succeeds yet blames it on the system that the world has developed. He displays anger at those who do it the conventional way and acts as those people are to be looked down on for their compliance. These are all indicators that Holden felt isolated and in this case, as in the case with many teens, he does not yet grasp it is his own attitude that has caused the isolation he experiences.

It's full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a goddam Cadillac some day, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses, and all you do is talk about girls and liquor and sex all day, and everybody sticks together in these dirty little goddam cliques'" (Salinger pg. 131).