An effective composer will use their texts as a medium to explore significant concepts that impart compelling ideas. One such composer is J.D Salinger, who uses his novel The Catcher in the Rye to follow the experiences of troubled teenager Holden Caulfield as he recounts various incidents in his rebellious life. Through the narration of this journey the composer delves into the noxious impacts of grief on mental health and the fear of ageing due to the inevitable loss of innocence. Salinger additionally examines how the lust for individuality ultimately results in self-isolation, conveying thought-provoking messages about the origin and effects of alienation. By analysing these themes, the composer is effectively able to depict powerful concepts
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Our materialistic society can appear overwhelming to some, especially teenage protagonist Holden Caulfield. He detests the “phonies” in society - like his headmaster, who only greeted parents who were not “funny-looking”, symbolising the judgmental and fake interactions present in society. By juxtaposing the superficial nature of adults with his child sister whom he claims is “somebody with sense”, Holden’s negative impression of older individuals exemplifies his fear of growing up. Due to this epiphany, he contemplates “[catching] everybody if they start to go over the cliff”. Leaping forwards off the cliff is allegorical of a child’s jump into the adult world, and Holden is determined to prevent them from consequently losing their innocence. Struggling to protect himself and others from the materialistic adult society, Holden seeks comfort in his red hunting hat, pulling the peak “way down over [his] eyes”, metaphoric for blinding himself from the fact that he must “grow up”. His subsequent fear of changing from child to adult is reiterated through the recurring motif of the “ducks in Central Park” and where they go when winter arrives. With change embodied as winter’s arrival, Holden questions where the ducks “run away”, to avoid such change. Ultimately, the superficial adult society causes Holden to value his innocence, subsequently …show more content…
Through the protagonist, we are shown a different perspective on influential concepts relevant today. His personal life and thoughts depict how tragic occurrences can elicit distress in an individual, and subsequently cause great strain on their conscious as a result of concealing their deteriorating mental state. Additionally, the powerful concept of how excessively stressing your individuality will result in society ostracising you for your extremities was brought to light through Holden’s very own actions. Likewise, by portraying his perceptions the superficial nature of adult society is delineated, subsequently causing us to value our innocence, and fear our own ageing at the thought of its inevitable loss. Such influential and poignant concepts are exemplified in this text, thus highlighting Salinger’s effectiveness as a composer to depict significant
Our materialistic society can appear overwhelming to some, especially teenage protagonist Holden Caulfield. He detests the “phonies” in society - like his headmaster, who only greeted parents who were not “funny-looking”, symbolising the judgmental and fake interactions present in society. By juxtaposing the superficial nature of adults with his child sister whom he claims is “somebody with sense”, Holden’s negative impression of older individuals exemplifies his fear of growing up. Due to this epiphany, he contemplates “[catching] everybody if they start to go over the cliff”. Leaping forwards off the cliff is allegorical of a child’s jump into the adult world, and Holden is determined to prevent them from consequently losing their innocence. Struggling to protect himself and others from the materialistic adult society, Holden seeks comfort in his red hunting hat, pulling the peak “way down over [his] eyes”, metaphoric for blinding himself from the fact that he must “grow up”. His subsequent fear of changing from child to adult is reiterated through the recurring motif of the “ducks in Central Park” and where they go when winter arrives. With change embodied as winter’s arrival, Holden questions where the ducks “run away”, to avoid such change. Ultimately, the superficial adult society causes Holden to value his innocence, subsequently …show more content…
Through the protagonist, we are shown a different perspective on influential concepts relevant today. His personal life and thoughts depict how tragic occurrences can elicit distress in an individual, and subsequently cause great strain on their conscious as a result of concealing their deteriorating mental state. Additionally, the powerful concept of how excessively stressing your individuality will result in society ostracising you for your extremities was brought to light through Holden’s very own actions. Likewise, by portraying his perceptions the superficial nature of adult society is delineated, subsequently causing us to value our innocence, and fear our own ageing at the thought of its inevitable loss. Such influential and poignant concepts are exemplified in this text, thus highlighting Salinger’s effectiveness as a composer to depict significant