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¶ … 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...
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…
Elkind, David, The family in the postmodern world.. Vol. 75, National Forum, 06-01-1995, pp 24.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye
Back Bay Books (January 2001)
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye was first published in 1951. The novel deals with the issues of identity, belonging, connection and alienation. This paper will review five articles written on the novel. "Holden's Irony in Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye" This article by Lisa Privitera was published in Explicator in 2008. The article postulates that the irony of Holden Cauldfield is that the harder he
Catcher in the Rye, a novel by J.D. Salinger, is the story of Holden Caulfield, a cynical sixteen-year-old with prematurely gray hair that appears older than his age. Holden is caught at the awkward age between adolescence and adulthood. Set in the 1950s, the story begins with Holden recovering from a breakdown stemming from his expulsion from Pencey Prep School. Holden has already flunked out of three other schools. This
1. "I can't see anything religious or pretty, for God's sake, about a bunch of actors carrying crucifixes all over the stage" (137). ironic in his rejection of martyrs. 2. "we looked at the stuff the Indians had made in ancient times" (118). This simplicity makes Holden happy 3. "They gave me Out of Africa" (18). Allusion to a more mysterious and exotic place, but escape is still desired (implied in
Sets up the fact that no one can really be trusted. f. "They were always showing Columbus discovering America" (120). Shows Holden's disillusionment with the world and discovery. g. "told her I was going to South America with my grandmother" (58). Illustrates his conception of exoticism; depth/scope of imagination 5) Antolini's (possible) sexual advance -- ironic because it is what Holden was seeking from girls through much of the book, found unsought and
Because Salinger allows him to stay in that world, we can cling to Holden as a pleasant memory. The Catcher in the Rye is told from Holden's perspective and this aspect of the novel allows it to remain innocent and suspended in time, so to speak. Holden is like Peter Pan in that he does not wantr to grow up but he is facing the glorious future that includes his
With such a vivid description of this densely populated, and optimistic city on the east coast during a time of growth and construction itself after the Great Depression of the 1930's, this element leaves a reader to focus in on the lead character here. Plus, elements such as his age and his "red hunting hat" demonstrate that he will direly hold on to that sense of self. However, his