Adolescence is a difficult time in every person's life, because of the great deal of change that occurs during this time can be overwhelming. The Catcher in the Rye is the story of a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield. He has recently been expelled from school, and he travels home to New York to find someone who will listen to him and tell him adulthood will be okay. Holden tries to preserve his own innocence, and the innocence of others by not letting go of childhood memories and through his desire to suspend time. Holden's unresolved grief over the death of his younger brother Allie makes it difficult for him to move on with his life. Holden has difficulty forming relationships because he does not accept other people’s faults making it hard
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During Holden’s time in New York he decides to call up a girl he has dated for a long time Sally Hayes. Holden describes her as as sociable, pretty and smart, however he also believes that she is fake and a phony. While on their date she begins to name drop, which Holden finds very fake. As the date goes on Holden eventually tells her, “you give me a royal pain in the ass”(133). Sally becomes very angry and leaves by herself. This shows that Holden does not want to form a meaningful relationship with her because he does not want to lose someone he trust and admires, like his brother Allie. Holden’s inability to accept the flaws of others makes it difficult for accept the flaws of the adult world. Mr. Antolini is the only adult in Holden’s life he feels he can trust. When Holden returns to New York he goes to Mr. Antolini’s house to get away from his parents. However when he goes there Mr. Antolini has a lot to drink, and while Holden is sleeping on the couch, he awakes to Mr. Antolini petting his head. When Holden questions what he is doing he responds, “I’m simply sitting here, admiring”(192). This attributes not only to Holden’s inability to form trusting relationships, but also to his fear of the adult world. Mr Antolini was once a trusted friend of Holden’s and it hurts him that he is corrupted by the adult …show more content…
However, Holden’s sister Phoebe helps him deal with these problems because Holden finds his sister genuine and not corrupted by the adult world.
Holden tries to preserve his own innocence, and the innocence of others by not letting go of childhood memories and through his desire to suspend time. Holden's unresolved grief over the death of his younger brother Allie makes it difficult for him to move on with his life. Holden has difficulty forming relationships because he does not accept other people’s faults making it hard for him to have trusting relationships. Holden’s sister Phoebe helps him deal with his struggle transitioning from adolescence to adulthood because she symbolizes the pure innocent childhood
During Holden’s time in New York he decides to call up a girl he has dated for a long time Sally Hayes. Holden describes her as as sociable, pretty and smart, however he also believes that she is fake and a phony. While on their date she begins to name drop, which Holden finds very fake. As the date goes on Holden eventually tells her, “you give me a royal pain in the ass”(133). Sally becomes very angry and leaves by herself. This shows that Holden does not want to form a meaningful relationship with her because he does not want to lose someone he trust and admires, like his brother Allie. Holden’s inability to accept the flaws of others makes it difficult for accept the flaws of the adult world. Mr. Antolini is the only adult in Holden’s life he feels he can trust. When Holden returns to New York he goes to Mr. Antolini’s house to get away from his parents. However when he goes there Mr. Antolini has a lot to drink, and while Holden is sleeping on the couch, he awakes to Mr. Antolini petting his head. When Holden questions what he is doing he responds, “I’m simply sitting here, admiring”(192). This attributes not only to Holden’s inability to form trusting relationships, but also to his fear of the adult world. Mr Antolini was once a trusted friend of Holden’s and it hurts him that he is corrupted by the adult …show more content…
However, Holden’s sister Phoebe helps him deal with these problems because Holden finds his sister genuine and not corrupted by the adult world.
Holden tries to preserve his own innocence, and the innocence of others by not letting go of childhood memories and through his desire to suspend time. Holden's unresolved grief over the death of his younger brother Allie makes it difficult for him to move on with his life. Holden has difficulty forming relationships because he does not accept other people’s faults making it hard for him to have trusting relationships. Holden’s sister Phoebe helps him deal with his struggle transitioning from adolescence to adulthood because she symbolizes the pure innocent childhood