...novel based on a boy named Holden Caulfield which he is afraid of adulthood written by J.D Salinger. Holden feels that all adults are phonies. As well as the teenagers his age that pretend to be adults or mature turn out to be phonies as they grow up. Also they feel they have to be a certain way to be portrayed as an adult. Caulfield is portrayed as a kid to most people, he is constantly told to grow up. From being kicked out of Pency to sleeping from hotel to hotel he discovers himself continuously having the feeling of being lonely. Furthermore, Caulfield holds all of his feelings in to where he needs to talk to someone about it. Holden is going through the stage every teenager goes through. When Holden says, “I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden I almost wished I was dead.”.This reminded me to today's society because there are many teenagers that just need someone to talk to or even just express how they feel or are to someone who will hear them out and not judge them or...
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...Catcher in The Rye Holden Caulfield, the protagonist in The Catcher in The Rye is a sixteen year old boy who is distressed between the corruptness of growing up, and the beauty of staying innocent. Holden can not withstand the thought of adulthood, he constantly emphasizes and intends to protect innocence in children. He fears that once a child loses their innocence they will become a “phony” like everyone else (Salinger 84). Holden tries to protect Jane Gallagher an old crush, Phoebe Caulfield his virtuous little sister, and all children who still have their innocence. Jane Gallagher is a not so beautiful girl that also happens to be Holden Caulfield's former crush. Jane Gallagher is...
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...perspective of Holden who has been expelled from his fourth school. After a fight with his roommate, Holden leaves early to explore New York City alone. Holden battles with the reality of adulthood that has turn a different turn on his life. We get to this stage where we fear to grow up and see what will be coming for us next in the future. Salinger’s novel clearly displays the experience of being isolated from multiple activities which can lead to the theme of alienation, the creation of the character (Holden) and also the symbolism which can be unnoticed. Salinger tries to convey a message with his writing to also displaying human connection is a must. The theme of “The Catcher in the Rye” is alienation which connects to Holden (the protagonist)...
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...Topic #4: Adolescence and Adulthood: The Developmental Trajectory One of the central ideas of this novel is Holden Caufield’s curious, conflicted relationship with adolescence and adulthood. Standing on the threshold between the two, Caufield negotiates neither successfully. Applying a developmental psychology framework for this essay, identify the points at which Holden’s ability to navigate adolescence successfully began to break down. Identify what Caufield could have done to achieve a more successful resolution of this complicated developmental period. Finally, you may wish to analyze this novel using the literary concept of the bildungsroman. In either case, be sure to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts that you are using as your analytic framework. https://myportal.bsd405.org/personal/bennett,%20megan%20w/english10/Catcher%201112/Catcher%20Essay%20Thesis%20Samples.pdfn http://www.unit5.org/ncwhsimc/Documents/Analytical%20Thesis%20Statements.pdf Both Salinger and Knowles display meaningful symbols throughout their novels that give the reader a better understanding of the intentions and meanings which are revealed throughout the novels Throughout the novel, Holden Caulfield possesses curiosity with conflicting relationships between adolescence and adulthood. The title of the novel The Catcher in the Rye is a central, controlling theme that symbolizes the main character Holden’s wish to keep children from reaching adulthood. Holden’s intense distaste...
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...Holden Caulfield, the main character in J.D Salinger's Bildungsroman story “the Catcher in the Rye”, fears and hates the idea of becoming an adult. Holden shows this during chapter 25 when he repeatedly asks his dead brother Allie to save his innocence. “Allie, don't let me disappear. Please Allie.”(257). Due to the fact the Holden considers “disappearing” losing your childhood innocence, and the fact that he’s talking to his dead younger brother, I believe that it is clear that Holden is deeply afraid of becoming an adult. Another instance where Holden shows his worry that he might become an adult was (again) during chapter 25. Holden was walking around in his little sister Phoebe's school, when he notices “Fuck you” written on the wall....
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...world's major languages. Around 250,000 copies are sold each year with total sales of more than 65 million books. The novel's protagonist Holden Caulfield has become an icon for teenage rebellion. The novel was included on Time's 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923, and it was named by Modern Library and its readers as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. In 2003, it was listed at number 15 on the BBC's survey The Big Read. The novel also deals with complex issues of identity, belonging, connection, and alienation. Plot summary Holden begins his story at Pencey Prep, an exclusive private school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania, on the Saturday afternoon of the traditional football game with rival school Saxon Hall. Holden misses the game. As manager of the fencing team, he loses their equipment on a New York City subway train that morning, resulting in the cancellation of a match. He goes to the home of his History teacher named Mr. Spencer. Holden has been expelled and is not to return after Christmas break, which begins the following Wednesday. Spencer is a well-meaning but long-winded middle-aged man. To Holden's annoyance, Spencer reads aloud Holden's History paper, in which Holden wrote a note to Spencer so that his teacher would not feel bad about failing him in the subject. Holden returns to his dorm, which is quiet because most of the students are still at the football game. Wearing the new red hunting cap he bought...
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...Holden Caulfield's “Catcher in the Rye” Fantasy Growing up, we have all experienced a particular desire to achieve something; an ambitious state of mind that gives us meaning to life. Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, has a primary ambition - to become the Catcher in the Rye – the protector of the young and innocent, as stated in his conversation with Phoebe (Salinger, 191). Completely imaginary and a hopeless fantasy, this passage underscores what is prevalent throughout the novel - the issue of Holden's black and white perspective on the dark, phony world of adulthood juxtaposed with the light, innocent, world of childhood. The important passage contributes to Holden's clinical depression as a result of his beloved brother's death, therefore his cynical view of adulthood, and his anxiety about growing up, resulting in the overall angst and alienation palpable throughout the novel, leading to his eventual catharsis. Holden's imagery of “catching” children playing in a field of rye before they fall off a cliff is unrealistic, misheard from a little boy, and it serves merely as an escape route from what he fears most about adulthood – the change and overwhelming complexity. Holden wants everything to be easily understandable and eternally fixed, similar to the Eskimos and Indians in the museum. Opposed to acknowledging that adulthood scares and mystifies him, Holden instead invents a fantasy – that childhood is an idyllic field of rye, while...
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...Entering the dark and mysterious world that is adulthood can be scary and cumbersome without the proper guidance. Rudyard Kipling’s “If” is filled with life lessons for those going into the world of adulthood. Holden Caulfield does not seem to quite appreciate the advice and chooses to ignore it. Holden ignores the advice in “If” by lying, being conceited, and by not keeping his virtue as he talks. For instance, Holden displays his habit of lying constantly on a daily basis. Holden lies whether it is about his age or interests, and it is mostly just for his own pleasure. He says this about himself as he speaks about himself. Holden says, “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life”(16, Salinger). He goes on to list what he lies about...
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...Stefani Arcadi C. Centorame ENG 2D March 24, 2015 The Catcher in the Rye The transition from childhood to adulthood is a huge journey. In the novel the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is on his own journey and cannot accept the fact that his childhood is slipping away and that he has to grow up and face reality. Holden is having a difficult time doing so because he is afraid that if he grows up he will become a phony and will not be himself. Holden is poised between two worlds; one he fears to enter and one he cannot return to. Holden's refusal to face the adult world leads him to isolation and the realization that he has to mature. The museum of natural history displays how Holden is stuck between childhood and...
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...boy who does not want to grow up. Holden often admits his loneliness and finds out he has some emotions left. He chooses to protect himself and reduce his pain. For example, whenever he thought about calling up a girl he gives himself many reasons why he should not contact her so he doesn’t get hurt in the end. He tries so hard to protect himself by shutting things out that could potentially hurt him. Holden Caulfield the protagonist isolates himself, has many fears, especially about growing up, and can’t connect well with people. Holden isolates himself from his society. Holden then becomes...
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...American writer, Henry Rollins, once said, “Change is hard, but change is good”. This quote says that even though change can be scary or difficult, we all experience change, and end up on the better side. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is a story of a young boy Holden Caulfield, who experiences depression but overcomes change throughout the book. Pleasantville, directed by Gary Ross, the story of a “perfect” T.V. show that all the characters wish to live in, and they all experience change by trying to achieve color. The Catcher in the Rye and Pleasantville both show that change can be hard, but is for the good. Although most people fear change for the worst, Change is for the better. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden, the main character,...
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...Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield expresses his love of innocence as he sees it in others, in numerous ways. He demonstrates this through the way he talks about others and the way he acts around them. We learn that Holden lost his own innocence at an early age after his “perverty” (193) encounter with Mr. Antolini. Because of this, he cherishes, and wants to protect innocence in others. This is really a reflection of his desire to be innocent himself. Allie is a paragon of innocence to Holden. I know he’s dead! Don’t you think I know that? I can still like him, though, can’t I? Just because somebody’s dead, you don’t just stop liking them, for God’s sake–especially if they were a thousand times nicer than the people you know that’re alive and all (171). Innocence is lost in adulthood. Since Allie never becomes an adult, he is for Holden the epitome of innocence, consequently, Holden’s love for him is very deep. Holden’s memories of Allie will always be of an innocent Allie. Holden says that he will not stop liking Allie just because he is dead. The other people he talks about are the adults that Holden sees around him. He does not like any of them because they are phony, and have lost their innocence. Mr. Spencer is one person in the book who definitely has lost his innocence, but Holden does not dislike him. Although Holden says he likes Mr. Spencer, he does imply that Mr. Spencer is a phony. There are other things about Mr. Spencer that Holden criticizes. “Grand...
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...The purpose of this extended essay is to analyze the mental instability of Holden Caulfield, the main character of J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, as well as explain how his Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder alter his perspective through comparisons between Holden’s accounts and reality. The scope of the essay includes The Catcher in the Rye, as well as __ articles detailing different interpretations of the cause of Holden’s problems. Holden is also the novel’s unreliable narrator, and his illnesses prevent him from accepting reality, thereby allowing him to create whichever reality he wishes were true. J. D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in The Rye is well-known for its themes of identity, loss, and growing up, but its most definitive quality is...
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...Rye, written by J.D Salinger, we are introduced to Holden Caulfield , the 17 year old narrator and protagonist of the novel. In the beginning of the story Holden is at a resting home in California. Holden tells the readers what happened to him over a two day period in the previous December. In this essay I will identify a theme from this story and explain how it is developed in the novel. In my opinion an important theme of the Catcher in the Rye is the painfulness of growing up. Many people interpreted this novel to be a coming of age novel, due to the fact that it talks about issues teenagers go through. Readers can relate to Holden Caulfield because of his disdain to the process of maturity. For example, in chapter 16, Holden's thoughts about the Museum of Natural History establishes Holden's fear on change and how overwhelmed he is of complexity. Holden wants everything to be easy to understand and a fixed, An example of this is the statues of Eskimos and Native Americans in the museum. Holden doesn't really understand whats going on around him. He acknowledges this fear with his confusion on sex, “sex is something I just don't understand. I swear to God I don't”. Holden invents a fantasy that being an adult is a world of superficiality and phoniness. Holden also feels that childhood is a world of innocence, curiosity, and honesty. In my opinion, Holden's view on childhood and adulthood are immature and foolish. Holden conceptions are very shallow and are proven shallow...
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...Catcher in the Rye in Class Essay In the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield the main character in is struggling with growing up. While living in Manhattan for a couple of days he goes through an emotional journey where the options are grow up or “disappear”. The key moments to Holden’s coming of age journey was his moments of separation, exploration, and his self-realization. As soon as the book starts we are given evidence that Holden constantly isolates himself from society. As soon as the book starts Holden tells us that he is watching the school football’s team game by himself “practically the whole school was there except me “(2). This shows how he chooses himself to not partake in society’s activities. Another experiencing in the novel that shows Holden separation from society is him leaving Pency Prep early instead of staying until the Christmas break. Holden constantly separates himself from the adult world because he is not mature enough to understand why adult’s act the way they do so instead he just calls everything they do “phony”. We see the word “phony” used often in the novel to show Holden’s hatred toward everything to do with adults. A large bulk of the novel was following Holden’s exploration of New York as a free man. He begins to have his first experience with the adult world. This stage of his journey was beneficial to his coming of age journey as he begins to realize the level of maturity you need to...
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