Catcher in the Rye Essay

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is about a teenage boy named Holden, who is depressed and has a fear of things changing in fear of it losing its innocence. J.D. Salinger expresses the theme “Fear of change” by using symbols and Irony. Symbols used in the novel identify the theme of fear of change. For example used in the story is the museum. Holden says, “Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different is you “(Salinger 121). Holden explains that nothing in the museum would…

called The Catcher in the Rye, and it’s written by this goddam phony, J.D. Salinger. I hear he used to be a real prince, old Salinger, till he became one of those hotshot Hollywood prostitutes, like my brother. If you really want to hear about it, my brother, D.B., is a real damn prostitute. Used to be a real prince and all, till he went out to Hollywood. It kills me. It really does. Anyway, let me tell you something about this book I’m reading by this J.D. Salinger guy, it’s called The Catcher…

Growing up is tough for people who are used to living an innocent, carefree life. These people live their life in endless cycles of doing whatever they want, without worrying about consequences. In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses a carousel to convey this continuous cycle of child-like innocence and Holden’s internal struggle to grow up. Holden’s life is comparable to the carousel because he lives in a never-ending cycle of youthfulness and immaturity. The carousel is a symbol of…

approached adulthood. Holden, being the main character of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, seemed to be “off” a little bit. Yes, teenagers all seem to be a little crazy, but his actions and thoughts were different about Holden. Holden’s desire to be understood, to be superior and to maintain innocence resulted in him having…

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…

An obsession with innocence leaves one predestined to be wedged between a world of childhood and that of adulthood. In JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye we are introduced to one of the most complex protagonists of literature, Holden Caulfield the antihero. Holden’s fixation with innocence leads him into a desperate search for connections to people who portray childlike and pure characteristics to which he feels he can identify with. Throughout the novel, Holden struggles to avoid conforming…

The Phony’s Truth Throughout The Catcher in the Rye the reader can quickly come to the conclusion of Holden Caulfield’s love of criticizing others and calling them “phonies”, when in reality Holden is as much as a phony, and maybe ever more, than all of them. This is because of his continuous habit of lying to everyone and anyone, even in situations where it is not necessary. He is an unreliable narrator, and keeping up with what is true and what is not, may be a little challenging. His…

Writing-in-Role: Holden Caulfield (the Catcher in the Rye) Selma Thurmer was Pencey’s headmaster’s daughter and seemed to possess interesting personality attributes, so I’ve decided to write about the scene where Holden talks to her on a bus in the beginning chapter of the Catcher in the Rye. Inserting scene in page three, chapter one, first paragraph: I sat next to her once in the bus from Agerstown and we sort of struck up a conversation... Personally, I wasn’t really in the mood to…

The novel, “Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger is narrated by Holden Caulfield; the main character in this novel. The story is based on a few days of Holden’s life, where he tells about a time following his being kicked out of his prep school. During his narration he also reflects on people that he has encountered and tragedies he has faced; the tragedies have impacted him to the point that he is suffering from severe depression , and needs help ,and encounters it in unpredictable ways. Holden…

October 2015 Catcher in the Rye: Themes Holden experienced many events in his life that cause him to lose his innocence. One such occurrence was the loss of his younger brother, Allie. These events resulted in him feeling a need to protect other from the harsh reality of the world. This is most clearly demonstrated when Holden’s sister, Phoebe, questions him on what he wants to do with his life. Holden respond “I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye……