• Home Page
  • Comparing Catcher In The Rye And Into The Wild

Comparing Catcher In The Rye And Into The Wild

Improved Essays
Show More
There is nothing as pointless as getting caught up trying to slow down time, and losing attachment to the moment you're in. Chris Mccandless and Holden Caulifield in Into the Wild by John Krakaur and Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger are searching for belonging but are stuck in fantasy belief of humanity. Holden and Chris, only search for innocence, and are blind to the fact that our society is prone to change into an experienced place. Toward the end of both their stories, they are finally able to come to realize that experience isn't so bad. Catcher in the Rye by: J.D. Salinger is about a teenager named Holden Caulifield that is having trouble finding his place in the world due to his harsh opinion about anything and everything. He …show more content…
Holden's favorite people, Allie and Jane, were exempt from the rest of the worlds “phoniness.” Holden knew Jane very well as a kid because Jane and Holden used to play chess together. There was something about Jane's style of Chess play that Holden was very interested in, “She wouldn't move any of her kings...She'd get them all lined up in the back row. Then she'd never use them. She just liked the way they all looked in the back row.” (Salinger 36) Holden admired how Jane kept her kings in the back row. Keeping kings in the back row gives the player no chance of winning. You need to move your kings forward to capture the other players pieces. Jane keeping her kings in the back row is an example of Jane staying innocent. Holden enjoys this style of play because he enjoys innocence as well. Where Catcher in the Rye starts out, Holden hasn't seen Jane in years. Holden repeatedly wants to visit her, but he never does, "Jane Gallagher. Jesus ... I couldn't get her off my mind. I really couldn't. 'I oughta go down and say hello to her, at least.'" (Salinger 36) He brings up seeing Jane another time on the next page, "I oughta go down and at least say hello to her," I said. (Salinger 37) Holden decides against seeing Jane because he can't be sure that Jane is still the innocent girl that he knew. He has such a good memory of innocence with Jane, and if Jane is now experienced, Holden does not want to know. Another innocent character favored by Holden is his brother Allie. “But it wasn't just that he was the most intelligent member in the family. He was also the nicest, in lots of ways. He never got mad at anybody.” (Salinger 41) Holden loved his brother so much and loosing him changed his life forever. He never talks about any of the bad things Allie did because he wants to preserve only the innocent things about Allie. As well as people, Holden likes places that stay consistent. “Certain

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    The Great Gatsby Identity Essay
    • 1541 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Great Gatsby Identity Essay

    Obviously, the loss of his brother, Allie, has scarred Holden to the point of overanalyzing each move he makes and the countless possibilities. By doing so, Holden prevents himself from enjoying the people and events taking place right in front of him. Holden’s…

    • 1541 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Analysis Of J. D. Salinger And Holden Caulfield Psychoanalysis
    • 1550 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Analysis Of J. D. Salinger And Holden Caulfield Psychoanalysis

    When it comes to sex and relationships, he admits he just doesn’t understand it. Jane Gallagher is one person that Holden actually respects and is fond of but every time he thinks about calling her or going to see her, he backs out and fails to make the connection. Holden makes countless references to being with Jane during his childhood and starts to believe that he and Jane can keep that childhood innocence forever. Sunny, the prostitute that Holden hired, also reveals Holden’s views on women. Holden was getting himself all ready to end his virginity when Sunny came, but when she arrived he could not see her as a prostitute, just a young girl with a terrible upbringing.…

    • 1550 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Comparing Catcher In The Rye And Lord Of The Flies
    • 120 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Comparing Catcher In The Rye And Lord Of The Flies

    “Make them laugh, make them cry, make them wait.” This quote is three demands of fiction writing. When following the three demands of fiction, an author get very interested in his/her work. “Make them wait” is a factor in creating interest in both novels Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies. The Purpose of this essay is to explain how making the readers wait will help create interest in the novels Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies.…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    The Role Of Alienation In Catcher In The Rye
    • 119 Words
    • 1 Pages

    The Role Of Alienation In Catcher In The Rye

    ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is a 1951 novel written by J.D. Salinger. Set in the 1940’s, it is told from the point of view of a troubled teen, Holden Caulfield. It looks at his emotions and view of the world which show the reader his distressed nature. This novel focuses on the alienation of the main character, madness and mental illness, mortality and lies and Deceit. Despite Holden’s constant interaction with others throughout ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ it still seemed to me that, whether intentional or not, he was bringing his isolation upon himself.…

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And Into The Wild
    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And Into The Wild

    It is clear that in society people are often incapable of forming profound relationships. Problems relating to someones home or family life, and the connections they find within that, can lead to people breaking away in order to seek, and form, more substantial connections elsewhere. This is portrayed within J.D. Salinger’s ‘Catcher In The Rye’, and Sean Penn’s ‘Into The Wild’. Holden and Christopher share similar triggers for the beginning of their journeys, namely the break down of relationships within their home lives, while also meeting a host of remarkable characters before their eventual realisation that happiness is found at the hearth.…

    • 1118 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Holden Caulfield Controversy
    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Holden Caulfield Controversy

    Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, we see the narrator, Holden Caulfield, sink deeper and deeper into his mental instability. This began when Holden lost his brother, and went on as he started his adventure, fearing he would lose the rest of his family as well. Though this causes him not to be a very reliable source, it does make him more relatable to the book’s teenage audience. In your teenage years, you begin to question not only yourself, but the world around you, which can be seen through Holden's constant hypocrisy, angst, and overall sense of rebellion throughout the novel. The Catcher in the Rye has made itself very well known for a multitude of reasons.…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    How To Write An Essay On The Catcher In The Rye Holden's Journey
    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How To Write An Essay On The Catcher In The Rye Holden's Journey

    Holden’s story Tucker Avonda Mr. Matarazzo English 9 October 24, 2014 A forever classic book, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger discusses the life changing journey of Holden Caulfield through New York in the wintertime. Holden has been kicked out of three prep schools in his three years of high school, the latest being the prestigious Pencey Prep. Upon receiving news of his impending expulsion, Holden takes a train to New York to stay in a hotel. While on this journey, Holden grows as a teenager and as a person. Holden’s innermost thoughts are captured without a filter, allowing us to see into his life.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Theme Of Deception In The Catcher In The Rye
    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Theme Of Deception In The Catcher In The Rye

    “Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes”(Prather). Finding oneself in an era of change may lead a person down a complicated and frustrating path. Adolescents undergoing this development are faced with social standards set by older generations and often times are vulnerable to high levels mental stress. For instance, in J.D Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, protagonist Holden Caulfield struggles with this transitional stage. The young boy’s perspective of the world around him is skewed after a series of misfortunate events, which he still has difficulty acknowledging are portrayed throughout the novel.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Comparing Catcher In The Rye And Rebel Without A Cause
    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Comparing Catcher In The Rye And Rebel Without A Cause

    Life, Death, and Everything in Between The 1950’s were a time for teens to be rebels. This era of unruly behavior led to teens getting into even more trouble than before which forced them to learn how to deal with difficult issues at a young age. Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger and the film Rebel Without a Cause take on themes and issues that are still prevalent in today’s society. Jim and Holden both have to confront death, hypocrites, their parents, and decisions on what to do next in life, but, throughout this journey, Jim is more open about his feelings and tries to surround himself with others while Holden is very rash and isolates himself all the people around him.…

    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    How Does Holden Caulfield Change In Catcher In The Rye
    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Does Holden Caulfield Change In Catcher In The Rye

    The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger tells a story about a troubled teenager named, Holden Caulfield, who struggles with the fact that everyone has to change and grow up. Holden Caulfield has changed his perspectives in a few areas throughout the novel. He struggles with change, growing up, and expressing his feelings to other people. From the beginning of the novel, Holden isolates himself from society by ignoring helpful advice and holding on to his desire that everything in the world must remain unchanged. In the second chapter of the novel, Holden intentionally ignores Mr. Spencer’s advice, “life is a game, boy.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    How Does Holden Preserve The Innocence Of The Catcher In The Rye
    • 2253 Words
    • 10 Pages

    How Does Holden Preserve The Innocence Of The Catcher In The Rye

    Holden dreams of being the “catcher in the rye” and defend the “little kids playing some game” from falling off the cliff into the mature life, because Holden’s job is to “catch everybody” if they begin to stumble “over the cliff.” In comparison to the book, many other sources that cover the analysis on the Catcher in the Rye agree with the…

    • 2253 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Compare And Contrast Into The Wild And Catcher In The Rye
    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Into The Wild And Catcher In The Rye

    Literary Analysis Essay contrasting Into the Wild and Catcher in the Rye with phoniness of the adult world When someone is thinking of the idea of phoniness, they might recall something like diamonds, teenagers antics, or TV shows. However, in Into the Wild and Catcher in the Rye, the two main characters Chris McCandless and Holden Caulfield think of adulthood and adult society as phony and constantly criticize it. Even though they both try to move away and not experience adulthood, responsibilities, and society Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye more clearly projects Phoniness in the adult world because of Chris’s lack of human interaction throughout Into the Wild. Holdens experiences of being alone in a large city, his negative mindset,…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Holden Caulfield A Sympathetic Character
    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On Holden Caulfield A Sympathetic Character

    In J.D. Salinger’s novel, Catcher In the Rye, Holden is indeed a sympathetic character. Although at times Holden can be unlikeable, cold, obnoxious and just straight out annoying sometimes, he is still a good person and by getting to know him one can conclude that his intentions are good. Although at a first glance one would be bewildered that you sympathize with Holden, sometimes those we feel the worst for are those who are the most off track and lost; and Holden is indeed lost. Throughout him trying to: fit in, find a girl, stay in school, and connect with his sister when it comes to what he loves Holden is always one of the most caring characters I have met. Holden is one of the most caring characters but is definitely gone through a rough time.…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Catcher In The Rye Book Review Essay
    • 1029 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Catcher In The Rye Book Review Essay

    Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Session 2 Review The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, was an amazing book that forced me to open my eyes to what the mid 20th century was like. It is about the main character Holden, who flunked out of school, going around New York and doing foolish things. It forces him to contemplate what he wants to do with his life and who he wants to be. This question is something that everyone around that age has to decide for themselves, and this book taught me more about that choice.…

    • 1029 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Significance Of Rebellion In Catcher In The Rye
    • 1248 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Significance Of Rebellion In Catcher In The Rye

    He wanted to spark a change in our society. Holden is an everyman character and someone we all relate to. The Catcher in the Rye was frequently read as a story about an individual’s alienation within a heartless world. Personally, I believe the novel is an eye-opener. It is a reminder that we do not live in a perfect world.…

    • 1248 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings