Catcher In The Rye Adulthood Analysis
Holden Caulfield, a cynical and paradoxical teenager not ready to embrace adulthood goes on a journey to explore the phoniness of the adult world. J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye published in 1951 reflects on Holden as a child as well as an adult. His neglection of adulthood and his blindness on the innocence of youth presents a great challenge in his life. The bulk of the novel displays Holden, a 16 year old teenager who just flunked out of Pencey Prep fleeing to his hometown, New York City in hope of staying at a hotel for a few days before revealing his expulsion to his parents. Throughout his stay, Holden has unusual encounters with past colleagues, his former neighbor, his sister Phoebe, and his old teachers. From these encounters, Holden acquires different perspectives on life and adulthood.
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For instance, Holden was at a club and he tries to order alcoholic beverages than the usual soft drinks. Holden not only tries to portray himself as an adult but says “I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it - I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you’re under twenty- one and won’t sell you any intoxicating liquor...I’m sorry sir...but do you have some verification of your age?” (Salinger 90-91). By showing Holden trying to act like an adult, Holden confuses himself between the line of childhood and adulthood. When the waiter asks “but do you have some verification of your age”, Salinger’s use of the word “age” alludes to the concept of Holden’s deceiving appearance , which makes him a phony. Holden attempts to display himself as an adult, showing Holden’s struggle to grow up and embrace adulthood. Salinger’s use of allusion illustrates Holden’s purpose in this part as a very fake person. From that, Holden struggles to establish a balance from his childhood to his entrance into
For instance, Holden was at a club and he tries to order alcoholic beverages than the usual soft drinks. Holden not only tries to portray himself as an adult but says “I ordered a Scotch and soda, and told him not to mix it - I said it fast as hell, because if you hem and haw, they think you’re under twenty- one and won’t sell you any intoxicating liquor...I’m sorry sir...but do you have some verification of your age?” (Salinger 90-91). By showing Holden trying to act like an adult, Holden confuses himself between the line of childhood and adulthood. When the waiter asks “but do you have some verification of your age”, Salinger’s use of the word “age” alludes to the concept of Holden’s deceiving appearance , which makes him a phony. Holden attempts to display himself as an adult, showing Holden’s struggle to grow up and embrace adulthood. Salinger’s use of allusion illustrates Holden’s purpose in this part as a very fake person. From that, Holden struggles to establish a balance from his childhood to his entrance into