Catcher In The Rye Adolescence Analysis
In the novel, Catcher in the Rye adolescence is shown throughout the novel in the character Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield is stuck in a grey area where he isn’t so much a child anymore but he’s also wouldn't be classified as an adult. There are many ideas shown throughout this novel that distinguish and represent adolescence and throughout the novel Holden’s voice does work as an adolescent one. But a theme that sticks out the most to me in the novel is sexuality. Specific sexuality traits could easily define Holden as an adolescent and is frequently seen throughout this novel in multiple different occasions such as having the optimal obsessions with sex, daily encounters with sex and sexual confusion. Holden is shown as a character that is in that weird phase between childhood and adulthood.There are moments in the novel where you can clearly tell Holden isn’t an adult yet but he isn't a child either, especially when it comes to his sexual obsessions. Holden is very interested when it comes to sex, he understands it and knows where he could easily get it. You can easily
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tell Holden is an adolescent because he is very interested of the idea of sex and wants to know more about it and who’s doing it, just like any typical adolescent would. He is very curious. Holden even considers himself “the biggest sex maniac”(46) while describing himself, even though he has not had sex yet. Therefor, when it comes to having encounters with sex he doesn't seem much of the “sex maniac” he describes himself as.
When Holden has the chance to have sex, he doesn’t actually do it, he gets nervous and begins to think too himself. An example in the novel would be when Holden invites the prostitute back to his room and Holden states, “ Sexy was about the last thing I was feeling. I felt much more depressed than sexy”(69). Having sex actually gets Holden upset because he wants it to be with the right person but he doesn’t want to wait. So when he tries to have sex with the prostitute it depresses him and makes him feel low. This shows the readers that Holden is in fact an adolescent because it feels wrong to him to have sex with someone other than, typically, his crush. He is still young and wants to be monogamous unlike adults who tend to think of their feeling and wants before
others. Throughout the novel it is easily representable that Holden is attracted to adulthood. He is interested in sex, alcohol, cigarettes and being alone. Holden wants to be independent, he acts up in every school he goes to because he is trying to find himself while at the same time trying to protect children around him. He is confused with what he wants along with sexuality as well. This comes to show during Holden’s and Mr. Antolini’s encounter at his apartment. He is confused with sexuality because of what may have happened between one another. As a reader we aren't so sure of what has happened but we could form ideas. … In conclusion, Salinger works in fantastic ways to voice adolescence through the character Holden. But in the specific focus I payed attention to sexuality, Salinger voiced an actual adolescent, one many adolescence could relate too. Sexuality is seen throughout the novel while having optimal obsessions with sex, sexual confusion and his daily encounter with sex as a teenager.
tell Holden is an adolescent because he is very interested of the idea of sex and wants to know more about it and who’s doing it, just like any typical adolescent would. He is very curious. Holden even considers himself “the biggest sex maniac”(46) while describing himself, even though he has not had sex yet. Therefor, when it comes to having encounters with sex he doesn't seem much of the “sex maniac” he describes himself as.
When Holden has the chance to have sex, he doesn’t actually do it, he gets nervous and begins to think too himself. An example in the novel would be when Holden invites the prostitute back to his room and Holden states, “ Sexy was about the last thing I was feeling. I felt much more depressed than sexy”(69). Having sex actually gets Holden upset because he wants it to be with the right person but he doesn’t want to wait. So when he tries to have sex with the prostitute it depresses him and makes him feel low. This shows the readers that Holden is in fact an adolescent because it feels wrong to him to have sex with someone other than, typically, his crush. He is still young and wants to be monogamous unlike adults who tend to think of their feeling and wants before
others. Throughout the novel it is easily representable that Holden is attracted to adulthood. He is interested in sex, alcohol, cigarettes and being alone. Holden wants to be independent, he acts up in every school he goes to because he is trying to find himself while at the same time trying to protect children around him. He is confused with what he wants along with sexuality as well. This comes to show during Holden’s and Mr. Antolini’s encounter at his apartment. He is confused with sexuality because of what may have happened between one another. As a reader we aren't so sure of what has happened but we could form ideas. … In conclusion, Salinger works in fantastic ways to voice adolescence through the character Holden. But in the specific focus I payed attention to sexuality, Salinger voiced an actual adolescent, one many adolescence could relate too. Sexuality is seen throughout the novel while having optimal obsessions with sex, sexual confusion and his daily encounter with sex as a teenager.