J. D. Salinger explores the theme of immaturity vs. maturity in The Catcher in the Rye‚ exemplifying this discord through an internal conflict of the narrator Holden Caulfield. Salinger consistently characterizes Caulfield as a teenager rebellious against the common banalities that entail the responsibilities and duties of being an adult in everyday English society. Particularly‚ Salinger articulates Caulfield’s disapproval of the societal expectations of adults through the word “phony” and its respective
Premium The Catcher in the Rye Last Day of the Last Furlough I'm Crazy
A coming-of-age novel is when a protagonist undergoes adventures and/or inner turmoil in his growth and development as a human being. Keeping that in mind‚ Holden was dealing with the realities of growing up‚ and becoming "phony". He was slowly realizing that he could never censor the world from profanities‚ and that he could never rub off all the "****-Yous" on the walls. At the end when Phoebe is on the Merry-Go-Round‚ he says that he has to let her grab the ring‚ which his way of letting her
Premium Coming of age English-language films Childhood
“Under the Bridge” – Red Hot Chili Peppers Analysis In this song‚ the lead singer‚ Anthony Kiedis‚ is describing how after a drug addiction he moved to a different city to start a new life. This relates to Holden in Catcher in the Rye because after he was kicked out of school he had a hard decision to make. He either could go to his home before his parents knew about the expulsion‚ or he could run away to New York. Anthony and Holden both choose to go to the city. Also in the song and the book‚
Premium Red Hot Chili Peppers
Her childish innocence brings joy to Holden since it serves as a stark contrast to his dreary and depressing worldview. He is interested in preserving innocence and keeping childhood last forever‚ as seen in his desire to be the “catcher in the rye” figure‚ “[catching] everybody if they start to go over the cliff…[coming] out from somewhere and [catching] them” (Salinger 173). When he meets up with Phoebe once again towards the end of the novel‚ he is shocked to find her maturing with
Premium The Catcher in the Rye Last Day of the Last Furlough Joan Caulfield
Innocence and Purity Innocence is to be free from sin or moral wrong‚ and purity is freedom from guilt or evil. According to J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye‚ innocence and purity grow weaker with time and life experience. The main character Holden holds onto his innocence and purity for as long as possible before understanding that it is inevitable that he grow up. J.D. Salinger proves that innocence and purity fade with time and age. He proves that life experiences can change a person
Premium Management Psychology Mind
Throughout the book The Catcher In The Rye‚ Holden Caulfield faces many struggles due to the fact that he does not like dedicating himself to certain ideas or people. In the book Holden finds it extremely difficult to devote himself to other people and is constantly finding reasons to push people away. Holden even calls almost all the other characters in the book “phonies” because he wants to find reasons not to care about other people due to the fact he is afraid of losing people he cares about
Premium The Catcher in the Rye Psychology Emotion
“If at least someone listens…” This is what Holden Caulfield from the novel “the Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger wants. It is about a sixteen year old boy‚ Holden Caulfield‚ isolated by society‚ as a result‚ he attempts to change others way of thinking to his own‚ acting as “the Catcher in the Rye”. Tone‚ symbolism and irony are used to demonstrate his separation from the outside world and himself. First of all‚ tone is used to express Holden Caulfield’s personality and character. His lack
Premium Psychology The Catcher in the Rye Emotion
The Catcher In The Rye Holden’s Attitude To Loss And Goodbyes The theme of loss and goodbyes recurs throughout The Catcher in the Rye and each occurrence reinforces Holden’s negative attitude towards change. The most vivid quote to gain insight into Holden’s view on change and subsequently loss (Byrne‚ Kalua and Scheepers 2012: 64) is in chapter 16 when Holden reflects back on his childhood and his regular school visits to the Natural History Museum‚ Holden finds a great comfort in the static
Premium United States The Catcher in the Rye Short story
author of Catcher in the Rye‚ once said that Holden Caulfield‚ the controversial and main character of the story‚ only needed a little attention and affection to help him find happiness. Despite these views‚ it is clear that Holden illnesses at such a young age with such a traumatic experience led him to have a different mindset than the rest of society. The Catcher in the Rye offers numerous examples of this kind of behavior that can only be explained by one thing. In JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye
Premium Mental disorder Schizophrenia Psychiatry
A Catcher In The Rye - Summary The Catcher in the Rye is narrated by Holden Caulfield‚ a sixteen year-old boy recuperating in a rest home from a nervous breakdown‚ some time in 1950. Holden tells the story of his last day at a school called Pencey Prep‚ and of his subsequent psychological meltdown in New York City. Holden has been expelled from Pencey for academic failure‚ and after an unpleasant evening with his self-satisfied roommate Stradlater and their pimply next-door neighbor Ackley‚ he
Premium