Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And The Bell Jar

The American dream has many different outlooks on every culture, religion, ethnicity, and relatively gender. During the 1950s, there was an ideal way of living for men and women. In some scenarios, the American dream never becomes a reality. In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield displays the failure of the American dream through a male’s perspective; In Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood displays the females. Holden and Esther have deprived themselves of the idea of the American dream and undergo severe life changes through losses, failures, and alienation.
At the beginning of Holden’s story, he mentions the death of his younger brother Allie. This was an example to the loss of innocence, a major theme in this
As Esther actually loses her virginity, Holden does not. When comparing the two characters, it reveals a difference in dynamic changes each character develops. In other words, Esther losing her virginity represents her becoming comfortable with the idea of adulthood. Furthermore, opening the lid to the“bell jar,” and a start to living the American dream. As with Holden, “ Certain things they should stay the way they are” (158). On the course of becoming an adult, Holden and Esther go through their own unique experiences in school and relationships and yet have the same failing
Though each character underwent their own losses, failures, and alienation process to differentiate themselves from the rest of society, the outcome of reality was the same. Both had to fight through adversities and come to realize their true identity and desired way of living. In the end, “...the American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling…[and] to be able to do what you want to do…” (Maya Lin), which Holden and Esther