J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is written with the intention to display to it’s audience a typical teenage character facing the common fears and anxieties associated with transitioning from childhood to adulthood. The intended audience of ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is definitely teenagers as the novel deals with teenage perspectives on issues such as relationships‚ sexuality‚ rebellion‚ education and changing emotions. All of these issues that are presented through the central character
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Although Holden values intelligence in women‚ Holden often allows physical appearances cloud his judgment. Most people suppose like Holden does‚ and that is if someone is attractive‚ he/she will likely be chosen over a person who is not as attractive. Holden is a sixteen-year-old teen‚ who is experiencing rapid hormonal development. This means that the better-looking the girl‚ the more interest he will have in her‚ even if she is dull-witted. If people could see inner beauty‚ they would not worry
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The most recurring theme in the novel is Holden’s obsession over what is phony and what is not. The story is set a decade before the great social movements of the 60s‚ in a time of rapid media growth and a strong demand for education. Holden was born into a generation traumatized by the great depression and world war two which ultimately resulted in the creation of a culture centered upon normality and conformity. Due to these circumstances‚ Holden went mad‚ and I find it hard to blame him for
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Self-isolation Benedict Arnold‚ an allusion Salinger uses in The Catcher in the Rye‚ greatly helps enhance Holden’s story and contributes to the theme of isolation and loneliness. First of all‚ Benedict Arnold was a traitor‚ and hid his true identity from everybody he knew. Much like him‚ Holden pretends to be fine‚ even though he is extremely hurt and depressed because of Allie’s death. Holden gives us a glimpse of his concealment when he says that he “didn’t want anyone to know that I was even
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Innocence in The Catcher in the Rye Not too many people in this world can be labeled as truly innocent. Nowadays‚ there is always something wrong with people. Some try to keep their innocence; however‚ innocence cannot be kept. In The Catcher in the Rye‚ Holden Caulfield does not want to realize that everyone has to grow up. J.D. Salinger writes a beautiful novel by using several literary and rhetorical devices to convey the theme of innocence. For example‚ Holden wants to stay young and never grow
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Themes in stories can be developed through many different means. It can be openly stated or just simply implied. Throughout history symbolism has been used to develop stories. Even in the bible there are multiple symbols that can be found. J.D. Salinger uses symbols to help readers understand the overall message and theme of his book The Catcher in the Rye. From Holden’s red hunting hat to Allie’s baseball mitt‚ symbols are constantly being thrown into the story. One other symbol that I think is
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During his existence‚ he gone through divorces‚ experimented with Buddhism‚ and served in the war. J.D. Salinger intertwined his life with his works in Nine Stories by giving Eloise a love she could not keep‚ adding Sybil in the midst of Seymour’s existence‚ and allowing Sergeant X to get a ray of sunshine to help him through his struggle. The marriages in J.D. Salinger’s life and the short
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The Catcher in the rye is a book written by J.D Salinger. The book is about a rebellious teenager named Holden Caulfield. Holden is lost in life and struggles to find his way out depression. J.D Salinger shows in this book the true value of having guidance in your life when one grows up. Guidance will keep one from from being lost in life. Salinger shows the importance of having guidance early on in the book. In the beginning of Holden’s story‚ Holden explains how he acts quite young for his age
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Various settings in The Catcher in the Rye serve as markers of Holden’s alienation as well as his growth. The novel begins with Holden at his school‚ Pencey Prep‚ which he is being kicked out of because of his unsuccessful grades. Throughout the novel‚ Holden acts as if he is excluded from the world. One of Holden’s previous teachers‚ Mr. Spencer explains to Holden‚ “Life is a game‚ boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules” (Salinger 8). In response Holden indirectly reveals to Mr
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Banning The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger should not be banned in schools based solely on the fact that it is a controversial book that uses harsh language and sexual references. This book is J.D. Salinger’s freedom of speech‚ and it is a violation of the first amendment for schools to ban this book. This book is only offering an inside look into what teenagers go through in some point of their lives. According to the Los Angeles Times‚ The Catcher in the Rye’s‚ “…
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