How do Twain and Salinger explore the theme of escape in the two extracts?
In the first extract (Huckleberry Finn) Twain shows the theme of escapism by describing how Huck fakes his own death in an attempt to escape from civilization. In the second extract (Catcher in the Rye) Salinger shows the theme as escapism as Holden is running away from Pencey to go into a Hotel for a few days.
Salinger shows that Holden is emotional about staying and leaving Pencey as he had got the ‘ax again’. ‘It made me too sad and lonesome’. This quote shows that Salinger is trying to portray Holden’s emotions and he is showing that it really did affect him; it also shows that he is lonesome at Pencey but he will be completely by himself when he leaves.
Holden decided to take a room in a Hotel in New York so his mother could calm down before he went back home. ‘My mother gets very hysterical’. This shows his trepidation in how his mother will react to him getting expelled from his school, this is a reason for him to escape to let the dust settle before he returns home.
Salinger is portraying to the audience that Holden is still only a child and that he still acts like a child, for example running off to New York on his own. This is an impulsive act on Holden's behalf and reiterates the theme of escapism. In this extract Salinger explains Holden’s feelings and what kind of person he is; by Holden’s mother sending him a present and that he does still care about his family but not about himself because he keeps on getting kicked out of school. ‘but it made me sad anyway. Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad’. This quote shows that he feels guilty because he doesn’t think he deserves any presents or any affection shown towards him. The word 'sad' occurs frequently throughout the extract. His lexical choices during the book is of a very depressive nature which links to the theme.
Also he feels like he has let his mother down by getting the ‘ax again’. Escaping and leaving Pencey was hard for Holden, ‘I stood for a while
Salinger shows that Holden is emotional about staying and leaving Pencey as he had got the ‘ax again’. ‘It made me too sad and lonesome’. This quote shows that Salinger is trying to portray Holden’s emotions and he is showing that it really did affect him; it also shows that he is lonesome at Pencey but he will be completely by himself when he leaves.
Holden decided to take a room in a Hotel in New York so his mother could calm down before he went back home. ‘My mother gets very hysterical’. This shows his trepidation in how his mother will react to him getting expelled from his school, this is a reason for him to escape to let the dust settle before he returns home.
Salinger is portraying to the audience that Holden is still only a child and that he still acts like a child, for example running off to New York on his own. This is an impulsive act on Holden's behalf and reiterates the theme of escapism. In this extract Salinger explains Holden’s feelings and what kind of person he is; by Holden’s mother sending him a present and that he does still care about his family but not about himself because he keeps on getting kicked out of school. ‘but it made me sad anyway. Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad’. This quote shows that he feels guilty because he doesn’t think he deserves any presents or any affection shown towards him. The word 'sad' occurs frequently throughout the extract. His lexical choices during the book is of a very depressive nature which links to the theme.
Also he feels like he has let his mother down by getting the ‘ax again’. Escaping and leaving Pencey was hard for Holden, ‘I stood for a while