Change is a homograph of sorts because although it is always spelled the same, it has different meanings for different people. For some, change is a transformation in a positive direction whilst for others it invokes some kind of loss or misery. Based upon an individual’s perspective, he or she will either be accepting or unaccepting of change. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye addresses loss as a change that should never be accepted due to the pain it entails. This is evident through Holden and his journey through New York City, where he displays his unwillingness to move past the death of his brother. Salinger utilizes symbols and details from the story to help portray the message of the non acceptance of loss.
Symbolic elements …show more content…
He refuses to accept that Allie is lost to him forever and tries to use the ducks to find a better explanation as to where he actually is. Another symbol would be the Catcher in the Rye, not the title of the piece but the actual position. When Holden visits Phoebe in her room, she questions him by asking him about what he wants to do with his life. He responds by saying, “what I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff-I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them....I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all” (Salinger 191). The role of catcher in the rye is to save children from falling off the cliff and disappearing. Holden wants to become the catcher in the rye so he can prevent these disappearances and consequently prevent others from experiencing loss. Allie died suddenly when he was just 11 years old, so in Holden’s eyes, it seemed like he disappeared. Holden wants to ensure that other children …show more content…
An example would be Holden’s violent behavior which occurred as a result of his inability to accept loss. The night of Allie’s death, Holden proceeds to break “... all the windows in the garage ... [and sleeps] in the garage” (Salinger 44). He could not accept the fact that Allie had suddenly been taken out of his life and because of his resistance towards loss, he has these violent outbreaks. In addition to his outburst of emotion, Holden also picks up the habit of substance abuse. He smokes and drinks at alarming rates for an adolescent and the only reason he does so is because that is his way of coping with the loss of his loved one. By turning to depressants Holden can take his mind off of Allie and not have to deal with his death. Holden enters a temporary state of euphoria which allows him to push away the thought of loss. A second detail would be the neglectfulness of his parents and how they do not help Holden confront his issues with Allie’s death. Instead, immediately following Allie’s parting, Holden is sent to a boarding school with little to no time to recuperate. This lack of much needed closure is the reason behind Holden’s issues with change and the fact that he cannot accept loss. Yet another detail would be the scene where Holden is found talking to Allie in his own mind. Holden has this fear of never reaching the other side of street, so to comfort himself he says “Allie, don’t
Symbolic elements …show more content…
He refuses to accept that Allie is lost to him forever and tries to use the ducks to find a better explanation as to where he actually is. Another symbol would be the Catcher in the Rye, not the title of the piece but the actual position. When Holden visits Phoebe in her room, she questions him by asking him about what he wants to do with his life. He responds by saying, “what I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff-I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them....I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all” (Salinger 191). The role of catcher in the rye is to save children from falling off the cliff and disappearing. Holden wants to become the catcher in the rye so he can prevent these disappearances and consequently prevent others from experiencing loss. Allie died suddenly when he was just 11 years old, so in Holden’s eyes, it seemed like he disappeared. Holden wants to ensure that other children …show more content…
An example would be Holden’s violent behavior which occurred as a result of his inability to accept loss. The night of Allie’s death, Holden proceeds to break “... all the windows in the garage ... [and sleeps] in the garage” (Salinger 44). He could not accept the fact that Allie had suddenly been taken out of his life and because of his resistance towards loss, he has these violent outbreaks. In addition to his outburst of emotion, Holden also picks up the habit of substance abuse. He smokes and drinks at alarming rates for an adolescent and the only reason he does so is because that is his way of coping with the loss of his loved one. By turning to depressants Holden can take his mind off of Allie and not have to deal with his death. Holden enters a temporary state of euphoria which allows him to push away the thought of loss. A second detail would be the neglectfulness of his parents and how they do not help Holden confront his issues with Allie’s death. Instead, immediately following Allie’s parting, Holden is sent to a boarding school with little to no time to recuperate. This lack of much needed closure is the reason behind Holden’s issues with change and the fact that he cannot accept loss. Yet another detail would be the scene where Holden is found talking to Allie in his own mind. Holden has this fear of never reaching the other side of street, so to comfort himself he says “Allie, don’t