'Catcher In The Rye: Delayed Adulthood'
Zainab Ali
3/23/15
Baez Pd. 8
Delayed Adulthood
The “Catcher in the Rye,” is a story about a young man named Holden Caufield and his resistance to the process of maturity, in other words known as delayed adulthood. A recent article published by The New York Times states that “Prolonged adolescence, in the right circumstances, is actually a good thing, for it fosters novelty-seeking and the acquisition of new skills.” Despite the fact that prolonged adolescence in beneficial, it seems like Holden tries to completely prevent himself from entering adulthood for several reasons, the main one including “phoniness” in adults which is a characteristic he does not wish to acquire but is not able to determine his own phoniness. Throughout the
story, Holden fears change and is overwhelmed by complexity, as he wants everything to be easily understandable and eternally fixed. The NYT article clearly states, “Adolescence is both a time of opportunity and vulnerability, a time when much is learned, especially about the social world, but when exposure to stressful events can be particularly devastating.” These opportunities can also be challenges such as a higher education which stimulates brain development. However, Holden does not seem to take advantage of these opportunities at all, for example when he left Pency and once again, considered everyone “phonies.” Attending Pency was an opportunity for him to learn about the social world and unfortunately, the outcome wasn't satisfying. His brother Alley's death was a particular stressful event that he still hasn't seem to overcome could also be an obstacle that is holding him back from maturity. Holden encounters several individuals throughout the story, such as the taxi driver, the nuns, Sally, Mr. Antollini, and Phoebe. His interactions with them can be an example of deliberate exposures to stimulate experiences and mature the brain. These people are examples that he doesn't exactly consider “phony,” or contain superficiality and hypocrisy. Holden prefers to believe the fact that virtue and innocence rest of one side of the fence while superficiality and hypocrisy rest on the other, and this is simply not the case. The NYT states, “Those who can prolong adolescence actually have an advantage, as long as their environment gives them continued stimulation and increasing challenges.” Prolonged adolescence seems to be a positive thing, but Holden is misusing the idea which causes him to suffer throughout the story. He doesn't seem to appreciate anything and has lost interest in everything, even in things he wishes to complete such as calling Jane. He definitely doesn't seem to appreciate the environment he is currently living in, as he also chooses to move away and isolate himself where no one can speak to him. He wishes to complete all of this simply to “preserve his innocence” and avoid entering adulthood as much as he can. The article and the novel both explain delayed adulthood, though “The Cather in the Rye” shows a real life example of a teenager and his obstacles preventing him into adulthood. Holden's observations are not entirely inaccurate, but he does spend too much time searching for phoniness in others which holds him back into looking at the positive side of adulthood. Holden seems to be frightened because he is guilty of the sins he criticizes in others and because he can't understand the world around him. The hypocrisy he tends to find in others is the main component that keeps him away from considering the positive effects of adulthood. However as the book progresses, Holden's experiences, such as his encounter with Mr. Antolini and Phoebe, reveal the shallowness of his conceptions.
3/23/15
Baez Pd. 8
Delayed Adulthood
The “Catcher in the Rye,” is a story about a young man named Holden Caufield and his resistance to the process of maturity, in other words known as delayed adulthood. A recent article published by The New York Times states that “Prolonged adolescence, in the right circumstances, is actually a good thing, for it fosters novelty-seeking and the acquisition of new skills.” Despite the fact that prolonged adolescence in beneficial, it seems like Holden tries to completely prevent himself from entering adulthood for several reasons, the main one including “phoniness” in adults which is a characteristic he does not wish to acquire but is not able to determine his own phoniness. Throughout the
story, Holden fears change and is overwhelmed by complexity, as he wants everything to be easily understandable and eternally fixed. The NYT article clearly states, “Adolescence is both a time of opportunity and vulnerability, a time when much is learned, especially about the social world, but when exposure to stressful events can be particularly devastating.” These opportunities can also be challenges such as a higher education which stimulates brain development. However, Holden does not seem to take advantage of these opportunities at all, for example when he left Pency and once again, considered everyone “phonies.” Attending Pency was an opportunity for him to learn about the social world and unfortunately, the outcome wasn't satisfying. His brother Alley's death was a particular stressful event that he still hasn't seem to overcome could also be an obstacle that is holding him back from maturity. Holden encounters several individuals throughout the story, such as the taxi driver, the nuns, Sally, Mr. Antollini, and Phoebe. His interactions with them can be an example of deliberate exposures to stimulate experiences and mature the brain. These people are examples that he doesn't exactly consider “phony,” or contain superficiality and hypocrisy. Holden prefers to believe the fact that virtue and innocence rest of one side of the fence while superficiality and hypocrisy rest on the other, and this is simply not the case. The NYT states, “Those who can prolong adolescence actually have an advantage, as long as their environment gives them continued stimulation and increasing challenges.” Prolonged adolescence seems to be a positive thing, but Holden is misusing the idea which causes him to suffer throughout the story. He doesn't seem to appreciate anything and has lost interest in everything, even in things he wishes to complete such as calling Jane. He definitely doesn't seem to appreciate the environment he is currently living in, as he also chooses to move away and isolate himself where no one can speak to him. He wishes to complete all of this simply to “preserve his innocence” and avoid entering adulthood as much as he can. The article and the novel both explain delayed adulthood, though “The Cather in the Rye” shows a real life example of a teenager and his obstacles preventing him into adulthood. Holden's observations are not entirely inaccurate, but he does spend too much time searching for phoniness in others which holds him back into looking at the positive side of adulthood. Holden seems to be frightened because he is guilty of the sins he criticizes in others and because he can't understand the world around him. The hypocrisy he tends to find in others is the main component that keeps him away from considering the positive effects of adulthood. However as the book progresses, Holden's experiences, such as his encounter with Mr. Antolini and Phoebe, reveal the shallowness of his conceptions.