Throughout the novel, “Catcher in the Rye”, J.D. Salinger takes the reader through the labyrinth of the protagonist and narrator Holden Caulfield’s mind. The novel parallels easily to many of the battles teenagers still face today, such as, the upheaval from childhood to adulthood and the feelings of uncertainty when faced with making choices that shape their future. As Salinger highlights Holden’s struggles to find his own identity in a world of “phoniness”, he also emphasizes Holden’s struggle to remain innocent and relates this to his personal enmity towards society. He refuses to grasp and accept the responsibilities that come with growing up and therefore struggles through his teenage life. It is clearly shown in the novel that Holden
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Holden’s naïve fixation and desire to remain forever an adolescent is shown through his love for museums. When Holden goes to visit the Museum of Natural History, he mentions that he likes the museum because it will always be the same each and every time he visits. “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the antlers and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket”(Salinger 121). Because of Holden’s strong attraction to the innocence of childhood, he displays childish qualities and does childish things. This is demonstrated though his unwillingness to take responsibility for his actions. He refuses to go home and confront his …show more content…
Allie, Holden’s younger deceased brother represents his desire to remain with his youth. In Chapter 5, Holden writes a composition for Stradlater, and dedicates it to Allie: “He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent. He never got mad at anybody” (Salinger 38). After Allie’s passing, Holden becomes cynical and angry at the world which explains why he is so better. Phoebe, Holden’s younger sister, represents the catalyst that is Holden’s metamorphosis to adulthood. Aside from Mr.Antolini, Phoebe is the only person in the book who pushes Holden to do better and is critical of him. “You don’t like any schools. You don’t like a million things” (Salinger 69). Holden responds to this angrily, “I do! That’s where you’re wrong! Why the hell do you have to say that” (Salinger 69). Holden’s fight with Phoebe kick starts him to grab hold of reality and helps him start thinking like an adult. ."..this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I'm going to apply myself with I go back to school next September. It's such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is you don't. I think I am, but how do I know” (Salinger 213). This is later highlighted at the end of the novel when the psychoanalyst asks Holden whether he is going to apply himself when he returns to
Holden’s naïve fixation and desire to remain forever an adolescent is shown through his love for museums. When Holden goes to visit the Museum of Natural History, he mentions that he likes the museum because it will always be the same each and every time he visits. “The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the antlers and their pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket”(Salinger 121). Because of Holden’s strong attraction to the innocence of childhood, he displays childish qualities and does childish things. This is demonstrated though his unwillingness to take responsibility for his actions. He refuses to go home and confront his …show more content…
Allie, Holden’s younger deceased brother represents his desire to remain with his youth. In Chapter 5, Holden writes a composition for Stradlater, and dedicates it to Allie: “He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent. He never got mad at anybody” (Salinger 38). After Allie’s passing, Holden becomes cynical and angry at the world which explains why he is so better. Phoebe, Holden’s younger sister, represents the catalyst that is Holden’s metamorphosis to adulthood. Aside from Mr.Antolini, Phoebe is the only person in the book who pushes Holden to do better and is critical of him. “You don’t like any schools. You don’t like a million things” (Salinger 69). Holden responds to this angrily, “I do! That’s where you’re wrong! Why the hell do you have to say that” (Salinger 69). Holden’s fight with Phoebe kick starts him to grab hold of reality and helps him start thinking like an adult. ."..this one psychoanalyst guy they have here, keeps asking me if I'm going to apply myself with I go back to school next September. It's such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is you don't. I think I am, but how do I know” (Salinger 213). This is later highlighted at the end of the novel when the psychoanalyst asks Holden whether he is going to apply himself when he returns to