The Last Leaf Essay

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the readers are challenged to analyze what is wrong with the main character, Holden Caulfield. There are several contributing factors to Holden's illness. Possible conditions that Holden could have are, Clinical Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Borderline Personality disorder. Clinical Depression, also known as Major Depressive Disorder is the most severe form of depression. Holden shows feelings of deep sadness that come out…

Holden envies the idea of childhood and holds onto his immaturity and childlike fantasies in order to escape the reality of growing up into a world full of “phonies.” This is proven by how much Holden brings up the duck pond he visited as a child, wondering where the ducks go in the winter. He says, “I was wondering where the ducks went when the lagoon got all icy and frozen over. I wondered if some guy came in a truck and took them away to the zoo or something. Or if they just flew away” (18).…

Often times, the transition into adult life can be difficult. Not only is it hard to lose your innocent nature but it’s also difficult to push yourself into adult experiences. In many ways, however, teens are forced to do so. In the famous novel, The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden experiences many of these problems. This book reveals that, while in many ways an average teen, Holden is literally stuck in between a man and a child’s mindset. Although generally mature, Holden often…

Sometimes, traumatic events in a young person’s life can force them to grow up faster than others. For Holden Caulfield, however, innocence and childhood is something to be cherished, since the world of adults is filled with “phonies” and people he doesn’t agree with. After the death of his little brother Allie, Holden struggles to retain his childish nature while growing into an adult. J. D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is a unique coming-of-age story that presents a theme of…

Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye and the film Dead Poets Society, both of the main characters Holden and Neil have strained relationships with their parents. For Holden Caulfield, he struggles with the fear of telling his parents that he was expelled from boarding school due to the expectations of his parents. Then, for Neil, he struggles with finding his own path that is separate from his father’s ideas, but cannot confront the strictness of his father. Within these two sources are…

For many teenagers, the thought of growing up and navigating the responsibilities of adulthood is a troubling thought. It is a time where maturity is tested, and autonomy is necessity. A time when some of us feel most alone. Unfortunately, this reality is no different for Holden Caulfield as his rejection of adultness leaves him wandering the streets of New York City alone. Throughout the novel “the Catcher in the Rye”, J.D Salinger plays off many aspects of Holden’s quirky and immature…

I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.” Through the use of figurative language, Salinger highlights Caulfield seeing himself as protector of the children which is a metaphor of him protecting the children from losing their innocence, this metaphor emphasises Caulfield’s obsession of keeping the younger children ‘pure’ and positions the reader to feel positive of…

will never be pure. Holden has profound difficulty in accepting the inevitable, which in turn delays any form of progression towards adulthood. Caulfield’s rite of passage is at last accomplished through the occurrence of independent events that allowed for an epiphany in the form of the Central Park carousel in the last lines of the novel. Consequent release from his pessimistic, childish…

An effective composer will use their texts as a medium to explore significant concepts that impart compelling ideas. One such composer is J.D Salinger, who uses his novel The Catcher in the Rye to follow the experiences of troubled teenager Holden Caulfield as he recounts various incidents in his rebellious life. Through the narration of this journey the composer delves into the noxious impacts of grief on mental health and the fear of ageing due to the inevitable loss of innocence. Salinger…

In the Catcher in the Rye, the author J.D. Salinger uses a variety of symbols to represent the struggles and challenges the main characters and narrator Holden Caulfield faces throughout the novel. Through the use of symbolism, Salinger is able to give additional meaning to the plot beyond what is being described by Holden. Through Holden 's desire to be a catcher in the rye, his goal of protecting the innocence of children is conveyed, but the golden rings on the carousel represents his…