Catcher In The Rye: A Character Analysis

I can often empathize with characters in literature, cringing at their awkward situations or poor decisions. I share in their feeling of relief, satisfaction, or sense of accomplishment. I can feel the frustration in Romeo and Juliet, or relief at the end of Catcher in the Rye. However, I don’t feel as though I’m heavily influenced by fictional characters. Yes, I may be able to relate to their emotions, or even live their experience for a while through my reading, but I don’t feel as though they mold me. Perhaps my opinion becomes challenged, or my world view altered, but I don’t often think about myself and my future. After all, isn’t reading supposed to envelope you, make you lose track of time, and allow you to forget about your own life
for a while? Now, this isn’t to say I haven’t learned lessons from fiction; Song of Solomon has taught me all about the dangers of greed, and Life of Pi has given me a different perspective on religion. Although literature gives me ideas and new perspectives, I don’t view literature as my guide to the human experience. Rather, I believe individuals must grow through true, personal experience. Live life ourselves. We learn best from our own mistakes and successes, not those of others. Literature serves as a means of conveying unique emotions and experiences to others, not a means of explanation.

On the other hand, I’ve gained great academic and political knowledge from reading nonfiction, certainly shaping my opinions. Everything from economic philosophy to contemporary articles shape my ever changing knowledge. Aftershock, a book from the Keynesian school of economic thought, shaped my opinions on economics and government, and The Big Short changed my perception of modern finance. Although non-fiction shapes my knowledge, like fiction, it does not shape my personal life. Although I find reading informative, practical, and thought-provoking, it doesn’t contribute to my self-discovery.