Dharani Nachiappan
Ms. Catenacci
ENG 4U1
08 April 2015
Salinger’s Fascination of Forlornness in The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye is known internationally as an influential and analytical narrative. It follows the story of Holden Caulfield who goes through a series of events that make him feel alone and neglected in the world that he is living in. Many themes are present throughout the novel but the most recurring and dominant theme is forlornness. This is the feeling of loneliness one has when realizing that no one can really make sense of one’s existence in this world. The author J.D. Salinger’s intention throughout the novel is to present the theme of forlornness by comparing Holden the fictional character to Salinger himself, portraying Holden as a “lonesome boy” and through the settings that Holden is placed in. Many sources show that Salinger and Holden share a similar upbringing. In The Catcher …show more content…
Salinger situates Holden the protagonist in many settings that required him to be social but he chose not to be. For instance in chapter twelve Holden takes a cab to a nightclub called Ernie’s. At the nightclub Holden listens to Ernie play the piano but is not very interested. He sits and drinks his scotch and soda and listens to the conversations around him which he find rather depressing and phony. He encounters one of D.B’s ex-girlfriends and is then forced to leave the nightclub to get away from her. Salinger placed Holden in a social situation where he would be required to talk and interact with new people but he avoids to do so because he feels that no one is worthy of his time. “I listened to their conversation for a while because I didn’t have anything else to do.” (Salinger 85). Holden is eavesdropping on a couple’s conversation instead of starting conversations of his own which reminds him of his eerie feeling of
Ms. Catenacci
ENG 4U1
08 April 2015
Salinger’s Fascination of Forlornness in The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye is known internationally as an influential and analytical narrative. It follows the story of Holden Caulfield who goes through a series of events that make him feel alone and neglected in the world that he is living in. Many themes are present throughout the novel but the most recurring and dominant theme is forlornness. This is the feeling of loneliness one has when realizing that no one can really make sense of one’s existence in this world. The author J.D. Salinger’s intention throughout the novel is to present the theme of forlornness by comparing Holden the fictional character to Salinger himself, portraying Holden as a “lonesome boy” and through the settings that Holden is placed in. Many sources show that Salinger and Holden share a similar upbringing. In The Catcher …show more content…
Salinger situates Holden the protagonist in many settings that required him to be social but he chose not to be. For instance in chapter twelve Holden takes a cab to a nightclub called Ernie’s. At the nightclub Holden listens to Ernie play the piano but is not very interested. He sits and drinks his scotch and soda and listens to the conversations around him which he find rather depressing and phony. He encounters one of D.B’s ex-girlfriends and is then forced to leave the nightclub to get away from her. Salinger placed Holden in a social situation where he would be required to talk and interact with new people but he avoids to do so because he feels that no one is worthy of his time. “I listened to their conversation for a while because I didn’t have anything else to do.” (Salinger 85). Holden is eavesdropping on a couple’s conversation instead of starting conversations of his own which reminds him of his eerie feeling of