Catcher in the Rye Synthesis Essay
Catcher in the Rye Synthesis Essay
Holden confronts many issues throughout Catcher in the Rye that still pose a problem to teenagers: such as the need to succeed, the desire for friendship, and the need to mature. These issues are generally forced upon a teenager by a more authoritative figure with higher expectations in comparison to themselves. Although some may regard these as a eustress, they cause distress to many teenagers, and society still upholds such standards.
The need to succeed was forced upon Holden by his parents when they set very high expectations and enlisted him in private schools. Holden did not like this pressure and revolted: "All of a sudden, I decided what I'd really do, I'd get the hell out of Pencey–right that same night and all" (Page 51). This proved that the need to succeed was a form of distress in Holden's time because he decided to pack his bags and just leave Pencey. In addition, parents in Holden's time did not understand that this issue caused stress to teenagers. In an article written by William Zinsser, children ask their parents, "But what if we fail?" (Zinsser). The parents respond, "Don't" (Zinsser). The article shows how oblivious parents could be to the stress they were causing to their own children. But what kind of stress and to what extent is it a stressor today? Today, the need to succeed can causes eustress when used in moderation and in a positive manner. For example, my parents take me out to dinner wherever I choose if I finish a six week grading period with all A's. To this day, the need to succeed is very much alive, but it has taken on a new form compared to back in Holden's time.
The desire for friendship was forced upon Holden by himself. He always tried to make a friend wherever he went. Holden even stooped so low as to hire a prostitute and ends up just talking to her, “I don’t know. Nothing special. I just thought perhaps you might care to chat for a while” (Page 95). This demonstrated Holden’s true
Holden confronts many issues throughout Catcher in the Rye that still pose a problem to teenagers: such as the need to succeed, the desire for friendship, and the need to mature. These issues are generally forced upon a teenager by a more authoritative figure with higher expectations in comparison to themselves. Although some may regard these as a eustress, they cause distress to many teenagers, and society still upholds such standards.
The need to succeed was forced upon Holden by his parents when they set very high expectations and enlisted him in private schools. Holden did not like this pressure and revolted: "All of a sudden, I decided what I'd really do, I'd get the hell out of Pencey–right that same night and all" (Page 51). This proved that the need to succeed was a form of distress in Holden's time because he decided to pack his bags and just leave Pencey. In addition, parents in Holden's time did not understand that this issue caused stress to teenagers. In an article written by William Zinsser, children ask their parents, "But what if we fail?" (Zinsser). The parents respond, "Don't" (Zinsser). The article shows how oblivious parents could be to the stress they were causing to their own children. But what kind of stress and to what extent is it a stressor today? Today, the need to succeed can causes eustress when used in moderation and in a positive manner. For example, my parents take me out to dinner wherever I choose if I finish a six week grading period with all A's. To this day, the need to succeed is very much alive, but it has taken on a new form compared to back in Holden's time.
The desire for friendship was forced upon Holden by himself. He always tried to make a friend wherever he went. Holden even stooped so low as to hire a prostitute and ends up just talking to her, “I don’t know. Nothing special. I just thought perhaps you might care to chat for a while” (Page 95). This demonstrated Holden’s true