The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger
In J.D. Salinger's 'catcher in the rye' a troubled teen - Holden Caulfield finds the transition between childhood and adulthood, disconcerting. Set in the 1950s, Salinger explores the perplexity of growing up and leaving the innocence of childhood. Holden's interactions and relationships with individuals gradually reveal his cynical nature and idealistic fantasies. Salinger exploration of self-discovery and alienation highlights the difficulties of adolescence.
Holden is initially introduced as a stereotypical teenage boy- as he talks about his family, school and girls. However, as the novel progresses Holden is gradually revealed as a pessimist - who wants to escape the responsibilities of adult life but at the same time yearns for independence. The language such as “lousy”, “phoney”, “crap” used …show more content…
in the first few chapters highlight his abrupt personality. Which all have negative connotations and which he often uses in expressing his feelings to others. It also becomes apparent that Holden is an unreliable character as he admits to being the “most terrific liar you ever saw in your life”. It is obvious Holden is unreliable in more than one sense – “I forgot to tell you about that. They kicked me out [...] I was flunking four subjects” This part is also significant as it is the reason for Holden’s expulsion from the prestigious ‘Pencey Prep’. Holden is now in the situation of being thrown out of another school to start somewhere else- where he will likely be told to “apply himself”. Even Holden’s peers recognise his immaturity and naivety and tell him to “grow up”. Such instances early on in the novel indicate Holden is awkward and obstinate in his dealings with individuals.
After arriving in New York, he makes his way to Edmond Hotel. On the journey there he asks the cab driver: “By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?"
This is the first of several occasions where Holden makes reference to the ducks in central park and is insistent on finding out where the ducks go during winter. Holden is in a situation that he is struggling to escape from and thus seeks to find reassurance – in this case, the ducks. The ducks symbolise more than one aspect of Holden’s situation. Firstly the way the ducks manage to adapt and survive the hostile environment. Holden struggles to understand this idea- the acceptance of change. The disappearance of the ducks also suggests that change is not always permanent and we should not be unsettled by it.
Throughout the novel Holden continues to demonstrate his fears of change and the complexity of growing up .When Holden makes his way to the museum of natural history he recalls his school trips to the museum and explains its never-changing nature. He would much prefer a world where nothing changed and everything was simplistic and comprehensible. The museum appeals to Holden as it embodies a life Holden wishes he had .
"The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. . . . Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." It is where everything behind the glass container is timeless, whereas everything else around is constantly changing - including Holden, himself. It troubles him that he has changed each time he returns, while the museum’s displays remain completely the same. This is symbolism of the museum is conclusive proof to the reader that Holden craves escape from the complex adult world.
As the title of the novel suggest, Holden wishes to be "The catcher in the rye".
Whilst Holden visits Phoebe he explains this idealistic fantasy to her.
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids[...] And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff.[...]I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff[...] That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye, and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."
Here Salinger is highlighting Holden's unrealistic fantasy. It appears Holden pictures himself in a field of rye, saving children from falling off the 'cliff'. This image suggests Holden actually wants is to prevent the innocent children from indivertibly falling into adulthood. Holden likewise wants to prevent himself from falling into adulthood and this fantasy characterises him as a idealistic and impractical boy. Holden's lack of maturity is emphasised in another aspect.
In the same chapter Phoebe acknowledges Holden has misheard the lyric. He thinks the line is “If a body catch a body comin’ through the rye,” but the correct lyric is “If a body meet a body, coming through the
rye.”
Whether Holden subconsciously switched 'meet' for 'catch' or not, the irony it is significant. The 'Meet' in the song suggests a romantic encounter leading to sex -which is possibly the reason for Holden's 'mishearing the lyric'. His entire fantasy is based on the innocence of childhood including the lack of knowledge about sex. Even Holden himself admits ‘sex is something I don’t understand too hot,’ This scenario with Phoebe clearly demonstrates that Holden is mentally incapable for adulthood.
Holden is initially introduced as a stereotypical teenage boy- as he talks about his family, school and girls. However, as the novel progresses Holden is gradually revealed as a pessimist - who wants to escape the responsibilities of adult life but at the same time yearns for independence. The language such as “lousy”, “phoney”, “crap” used …show more content…
in the first few chapters highlight his abrupt personality. Which all have negative connotations and which he often uses in expressing his feelings to others. It also becomes apparent that Holden is an unreliable character as he admits to being the “most terrific liar you ever saw in your life”. It is obvious Holden is unreliable in more than one sense – “I forgot to tell you about that. They kicked me out [...] I was flunking four subjects” This part is also significant as it is the reason for Holden’s expulsion from the prestigious ‘Pencey Prep’. Holden is now in the situation of being thrown out of another school to start somewhere else- where he will likely be told to “apply himself”. Even Holden’s peers recognise his immaturity and naivety and tell him to “grow up”. Such instances early on in the novel indicate Holden is awkward and obstinate in his dealings with individuals.
After arriving in New York, he makes his way to Edmond Hotel. On the journey there he asks the cab driver: “By any chance, do you happen to know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over? Do you happen to know, by any chance?"
This is the first of several occasions where Holden makes reference to the ducks in central park and is insistent on finding out where the ducks go during winter. Holden is in a situation that he is struggling to escape from and thus seeks to find reassurance – in this case, the ducks. The ducks symbolise more than one aspect of Holden’s situation. Firstly the way the ducks manage to adapt and survive the hostile environment. Holden struggles to understand this idea- the acceptance of change. The disappearance of the ducks also suggests that change is not always permanent and we should not be unsettled by it.
Throughout the novel Holden continues to demonstrate his fears of change and the complexity of growing up .When Holden makes his way to the museum of natural history he recalls his school trips to the museum and explains its never-changing nature. He would much prefer a world where nothing changed and everything was simplistic and comprehensible. The museum appeals to Holden as it embodies a life Holden wishes he had .
"The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. . . . Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." It is where everything behind the glass container is timeless, whereas everything else around is constantly changing - including Holden, himself. It troubles him that he has changed each time he returns, while the museum’s displays remain completely the same. This is symbolism of the museum is conclusive proof to the reader that Holden craves escape from the complex adult world.
As the title of the novel suggest, Holden wishes to be "The catcher in the rye".
Whilst Holden visits Phoebe he explains this idealistic fantasy to her.
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids[...] And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff.[...]I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff[...] That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye, and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."
Here Salinger is highlighting Holden's unrealistic fantasy. It appears Holden pictures himself in a field of rye, saving children from falling off the 'cliff'. This image suggests Holden actually wants is to prevent the innocent children from indivertibly falling into adulthood. Holden likewise wants to prevent himself from falling into adulthood and this fantasy characterises him as a idealistic and impractical boy. Holden's lack of maturity is emphasised in another aspect.
In the same chapter Phoebe acknowledges Holden has misheard the lyric. He thinks the line is “If a body catch a body comin’ through the rye,” but the correct lyric is “If a body meet a body, coming through the
rye.”
Whether Holden subconsciously switched 'meet' for 'catch' or not, the irony it is significant. The 'Meet' in the song suggests a romantic encounter leading to sex -which is possibly the reason for Holden's 'mishearing the lyric'. His entire fantasy is based on the innocence of childhood including the lack of knowledge about sex. Even Holden himself admits ‘sex is something I don’t understand too hot,’ This scenario with Phoebe clearly demonstrates that Holden is mentally incapable for adulthood.