In Catcher in the Rye‚ J.D Salinger over takes the voice of a 16 year old cynical boy Holden Caulfield who was recently expelled from his fourth school. Though Holden is the narrator and protagonist of the story Salinger’s main focus is not on Holden but on the reality of adulthood. Holden is constantly faced with the thought that it is his fate to control the purity of the youth. Having suffered a traumatic loss of a sibling at a young age‚ Holden develops a pessimistic view on the world and the
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Chap 1-2: Analysis (sparknotes) From the beginning of the novel‚ Holden tells his story in a bitterly cynical voice. He refuses to discuss his early life‚ he says‚ because he is bored by “all that David Copperfield kind of crap.” He gives us a hint that something catastrophic has happened in his life‚ acknowledging that he writes from a rest home to tell about “this madman stuff” that happened to him around the previous Christmas‚ but he doesn’t yet go into specifics. The particularities of his
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Critique This book‚ in my opinion‚ was a good book. It’s a book of reality; things that a seventeen year old really goes through. This book shocked me in a few ways. Catcher in the Rye has very inappropriate behavior‚ horrible language use‚ and not the best example for others to look up to. I liked the book and think others should read it. I think many can learn from his mistakes and where it leads him. It doesn’t curse as much as I thought but swears about every other line. I can very well
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The Catcher in the Rye‚ a Medley of Failure All humans make mistakes‚ unfortunately‚ Holden Caulfield is notorious for committing one too many. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye appears to be a long string of consecutive failures for the protagonist. The novel describes his attempt to reconcile with these failures and find a path that suits his qualities and desires. However Holden can not find a way to succeed and even Mr. Antolini says‚ “This fall I think you’re riding for – it’s a special
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JD Salinger’s Catcher and the Rye was written during a time of suppression for teens and often behave in outburst or turn to music that speaks to them. Although at the time music did not cater to the young folk‚ now there’s an abundant amount even for songs that cater to that demographic. This song A Letter to Myself by Denace. This song in many ways can be speaking to Holden as he goes through his troubles and he can identify with the song. Holden is one who is highly critical of himself and shown
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Lastly‚ what helps us to identify if The Catcher in the Rye is a coming of age novel‚ is how Holden’s immature responces turned into mature responces. He always ran away from his problems but then he changed and learned how to take resposibily for his actions and care about his future by making correct actions. Holden was expelled from Pencey Prep for failing all of his classes exept English. His last day being at Pencey was supposed to be Wednesday‚ however‚ Holden couldn’t bring himself to stay at the
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In J.D. Salinger’s A Catcher in the Rye‚ Holden Caulfield battles with growing up and maturing from a boy into a man. Holden struggles with the idea of children growing up and whether or not they should be sheltered. He also struggles with facing his problem of depression‚ rather than running from it. Holden matures when he realizes children cannot be protected‚ and he cannot keep running from his problems. Holden shows signs of maturation when he realizes that kids cannot be protected from growing
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In The Catcher in the Rye‚ the main character Holden intensely hates “phonies.” He refers to this word numerous times to describe many characters. Holden tends to call people who follow societal rules phonies. These people tend to be adults or teenagers who have grown up. When Lillian Simmons‚ a ex-girlfriend of Holden’s older brother‚ greets Holden with‚”’How marvelous to see you!”’(96‚ Salinger)‚ Holden immediately calls Lillian a phony. Lillian was trying to be polite‚ just as most people would
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From the start of his story to the end‚ Holden Caulfield frequently acknowledged his lack of mental maturity. However‚ because of this immaturity‚ events he experienced developed him greatly. The most pivotal moment took place when Holden was talking to his little sister about what he’d like to be: “I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids‚ and nobody’s around--nobody big‚ I mean--except me. And I’m standing on the edge
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innocence and contempt towards the perceived phoniness of the adult world. The opening extract from J.D Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ (1951) is very significant in relation of the novel. This novel‚ renowned for its didactic nature also voices the opinions and struggles of many young American teens in the post – modern World War II period. Salinger utilizes the unique character of Holden and his struggles in the chaotic multifaceted world to portray how alienation can be used as protection‚ the painfulness
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