The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger is centered around a young boy who thinks he fully understands the world around him. He begins his journey of finding himself and reaching a point of real maturity throughout the novel. It is clear throughout the novel that Holden’s character is dynamic and shifts from an immature teenager to one who is more accepting of himself and his true limit of his knowledge of the world. Although it is evident that Holden tries to grow up extremely quickly, the novel can be seen as a coming of age story through his experiences at Mr. Spencer’s house, school, the city, and his house.
Holden first begins his coming of age journey at his teacher, Mr. Spencer’s house. It is evident that Holden begins the story as …show more content…
The audience begins to see Holden’s true character while he is home with his sister, not simply the facade that he puts on when out in the city and at school. While speaking with his sister, Phoebe, he explains that “what [he has] to do,” if he could do anything is [he has to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—[he means] if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going [he has] to come out from somewhere and catch them” (Salinger 101). This illustrates a growth in Holden’s maturity as his dream involves him being selfless and wanting to help others. By explaining that his fantasy is centered around saving others and keeping them safe, it is clear that these are the true intentions that he has gone out of his way at previous times in the novel to avoid showing. Up to this point in the novel, Holden seems to worry solely about himself and what he is doing at that moment. It is not until he feels secure in his own home with Phoebe that he is able to let down his guard and actually prove that he has compassion for others and truly cares, showing a great deal of maturity. It is clear that Holden does want to become more mature, and after his experiences at school and in the city, he accepts in and begins to make a change. Many critics believe that “in a sense, then, he is looking for an exemplar, a wise-good father whose example will justify his own initiation into manhood” (Baumbach). It is manifest that Holden has begun to change as a person into someone who accepts that he does not know everything, and who is trying to find a way into manhood and his place in the world. He is now making the effort to become less self-centered in an attempt to grow up in a permanent way that lacks his facade of fake
Holden first begins his coming of age journey at his teacher, Mr. Spencer’s house. It is evident that Holden begins the story as …show more content…
The audience begins to see Holden’s true character while he is home with his sister, not simply the facade that he puts on when out in the city and at school. While speaking with his sister, Phoebe, he explains that “what [he has] to do,” if he could do anything is [he has to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—[he means] if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going [he has] to come out from somewhere and catch them” (Salinger 101). This illustrates a growth in Holden’s maturity as his dream involves him being selfless and wanting to help others. By explaining that his fantasy is centered around saving others and keeping them safe, it is clear that these are the true intentions that he has gone out of his way at previous times in the novel to avoid showing. Up to this point in the novel, Holden seems to worry solely about himself and what he is doing at that moment. It is not until he feels secure in his own home with Phoebe that he is able to let down his guard and actually prove that he has compassion for others and truly cares, showing a great deal of maturity. It is clear that Holden does want to become more mature, and after his experiences at school and in the city, he accepts in and begins to make a change. Many critics believe that “in a sense, then, he is looking for an exemplar, a wise-good father whose example will justify his own initiation into manhood” (Baumbach). It is manifest that Holden has begun to change as a person into someone who accepts that he does not know everything, and who is trying to find a way into manhood and his place in the world. He is now making the effort to become less self-centered in an attempt to grow up in a permanent way that lacks his facade of fake