The Catcher in the Rye and The Outsider novels hold relevance to today's society.
Albert Camus’ The Stranger and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye are both among the most important novels of the twentieth century. The modern world’s general moral change and the individual’s alienation from the society serve as the main, basic topic for both novels which is still relevant to any twenty first century reader. Since many people find themselves in the same position of feeling like an outsider from society in their own worlds, I intend to outline how it still finds relevance today.
Both characters, Meursault and Holden Caulfield share the same sense that they are alienated from the worlds in which they live in which is important to a twenty first century reader as many people have problems assimilating themselves into society. Like Holden, teens today also resist conforming to society's norms as is also highlighted in The Stranger with the protagonist Meursault. Salinger chooses to narrate his novel so that the novel that depicts his protagonist, Holden's, transition from adolescence to adulthood. In contrast, Camus writes his novel in order to record the events leading up to, and the last days before, the execution of his main character, Meursault. Through the employment of settings, characterisation and endings, both authors imply that society's pressure on the individual to fit in plays a major part in both of these climaxes, this has huge importance to any twenty first century reader as the topic is still challenged in today’s society.
Both characters Meursault and Holden Caulfield suggest that society pressures individuals to fit in and conform to. Holden is a teenager struggling with the fact that everyone has to grow up, which to him means that you have to become “phony” or corrupt. Holden distances himself from the adult world and so to stay a child he gets himself expelled from schools. While on the other hand Meursault does things for no real reason. He is completely aloof, unattached and almost an unemotional person. He does
Both characters, Meursault and Holden Caulfield share the same sense that they are alienated from the worlds in which they live in which is important to a twenty first century reader as many people have problems assimilating themselves into society. Like Holden, teens today also resist conforming to society's norms as is also highlighted in The Stranger with the protagonist Meursault. Salinger chooses to narrate his novel so that the novel that depicts his protagonist, Holden's, transition from adolescence to adulthood. In contrast, Camus writes his novel in order to record the events leading up to, and the last days before, the execution of his main character, Meursault. Through the employment of settings, characterisation and endings, both authors imply that society's pressure on the individual to fit in plays a major part in both of these climaxes, this has huge importance to any twenty first century reader as the topic is still challenged in today’s society.
Both characters Meursault and Holden Caulfield suggest that society pressures individuals to fit in and conform to. Holden is a teenager struggling with the fact that everyone has to grow up, which to him means that you have to become “phony” or corrupt. Holden distances himself from the adult world and so to stay a child he gets himself expelled from schools. While on the other hand Meursault does things for no real reason. He is completely aloof, unattached and almost an unemotional person. He does