Holden Caulfield's Existentialism

At some point in one’s life, an individual will most likely question the reason for their existence. Existentialists, drawing more attention to the commonly asked question, consider the nature of the human condition as an extensive problem. Although existentialism arose in the nineteenth century, it was not until after World War II that its concepts rose to conspicuity. The despair that resulted from World War II caused anxiety and provoked the inescapable feeling of being abandoned in an insensitive and unpredictable universe. These concerns have been expressed by existentialist philosophers for many years, and they exist presently. Individuality, isolation, frustration, and instability became prominent mentalities, and many followers began to create their own essence and purpose in life. Such tenets are evident in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, an existentialist novel which exhibits the existential crisis of Holden Caulfield, the unreliable, conflicted, sixteen-year-old narrator of this distorted coming-of-age story. Existential elements are evident in Holden’s confusion towards the world, his …show more content…
Existentialism is a way to not only find one’s purpose in life, but to create that purpose as well. Today, like Holden, many teenagers and young adults find it difficult to identify themselves in the distorted society that they are meant to become a part of. Often times, for young adults like Holden, it is difficult to integrate themselves into a warped society. If one desires to find his or her true purpose in life, though, it is necessary for that person to create a unique essence for him or herself. As John-Paul Sartre once said, “Man is nothing else but that which he makes of