During the mid-twentieth century, mental illnesses were a very taboo topic. Having a mental illness during this time meant going to an asylum where there were limited staff and inhumane treatment. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, the topic of mental illness is touched upon, but never explicitly stated. Holden Caulfield, the narrator, and main character, shares his story which lasts over a course of three days. He also begins the novel by stating that he was a liar. This is ironic since he…
to tell the truth. That is why Holden sometimes tells the truth. He tells the truth because he has to show his true emotions about his late brother. “The Catcher in the Rye” is a 1951 novel written by J.D. Salenger, about a teenager (Holden Caulfield) who describes the events of his life in 1949. The events in “Catcher in the Rye” describes most of the problems that developing teenagers go through. A recurring theme throughout the book is Holden grieving his younger brother (Allie’s) death. In…
Joshua Cheng Mrs. Wu English 2HP, Period 5 30 April 2018 Connector Chapter 1-8 Catcher in the Rye Real World Connections: The first few chapters of Catcher in the Rye can be related to a news article that talks about moody teens. As seen through our character Holden, he seems to have an odd personality and is unable to cope with his own problems with school, social life, and his own emotions. He displays his inability to cope with school when he mentions that he is failing 4 out of 5 classes. In…
The Symbolism of Allie Caulfield’s Glove In J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield struggles to find a way to cope with his grief following the death of his younger brother, Allie. The emotional pain surrounding the loss of Holden’s brother makes it difficult for him to find closure. He lives in the past, where Allie continues to live, and struggles to focus on the future because of these deep emotional scars. The small left-handed fielder’s glove acts as Holden’s anchor…
Kevin Marcotte English 3 Period H 2/28/17 The Catcher in the Rye ¬¬- “I Am a Rock” Anyone who has read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and “I Am a Rock” by Paul Simon knows that there are many similarities in the two works speakers but also know that there are many differences. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden shares many similaries with the speaker from “I Am a Rock”. The two speakers also have many differences. Both share similar qualities and ideas but at the same time have…
Holden is practically snickering about how amusing he perceives this situation to be, but his bitterness toward others is becoming evident. In the Bible bitterness is described as a root that brings forth destructive fruit. People do not always recognize it for what it is, but its effects are deadly. Bitterness can begin as something minuscule that people do not even notice it, but progressively evolves into something drastic. This is one of the reasons that forgiving others is paramount.…
Everyone has certain types of behaviors they do not like, which are usually ones opposite how they themselves act and behave. In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield claims he hates “phonies,” although it is clear that Holden is one himself. On his long journey home from being kicked out of school, he runs into several characters, and around all of them the reader can see just how phony Holden actually is. He rides a train to his home state, where he wanders around two days,…
Holden has the desire to be the catcher in the rye, because he wants to protect children’s innocence before they fall or grow up into adults. Throughout the book, Holden calls every adult or anyone who isn’t a kid pony. Anyone who has been exposed to the adult world is phony through Holden’s eyes.…
The Catcher in the Rye is a coming of age story. It thoroughly recounts the journey of Holden, a teenager struggling with identity loss and depression. Throughout the story, Holden discovers his true identity, realizes the meaning of individuality and what it means to fulfill the specific role that is expected of an individual in society. The author of this novel, J.D. Salinger, starts off the book by setting a tone that puts emphasis on the severity of the case that Holden was living in. He…
Catcher in the Rye: Where’s the innocence? What really is innocence and where is it found in its purest form? In the book Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, the main character, Holden, feels the need to preserve the innocence of childhood. To Holden, a person who is innocent is someone who is free from moral wrong and a person who is pure and harmless. He views innocence as an important aspect of a child’s life which should and must be preserved and separated from the corruption of…