The Last Lecture

Society’s stigma around mental illnesses can often add to a person’s problems and struggles. In the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the main character, Holden is struggling with the loss of his brother. It is apparent to the reader that Holden has some form of a mental illness, but not apparent to the people in Holden’s life. The stigma is often based around societies assumption that people with mental illnesses are violent or unstable. In one article in states that “people are twice…

Parents often find themselves frustrated and lost when they fail to understand the actions of their children, but try their best to adapt to new situations. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, the protagonist, Christopher Boone is a fifteen year-old autistic boy living in a dysfunctional family. Ed Boone and Judy Boone, the father and mother to Christopher, are estranged, with Ed being the primary caregiver to Chris. Ed faces many difficulties in raising his son…

In J.D. Salinger's book, “Catcher and The Rye” the main character, Holden is a young man who has already had much to deal with in his life. After dropping out of his boarding school, he travels back home and begins to spiral into a breakdown. Holden’s infatuation with protecting childhood innocence stems from the loss of his brother, Allie. Not being able to fulfill his wants to keep everyone around him “innocent” contributes to his eventual breakdown. Holden becomes obsessed with protecting…

“Greasy Lake” by T Coraghenssan Boyle is a short story about three male teenagers from suburban families that try their hand in the life of being bad and macho men. The young men are influenced by the cultural revolution that was going on in the United States during the 1960’s that created an impression that an ideal man is one who is bad, aggressive, irrational and masculine. The mass media played a major role in influencing the teenagers to put on the mask of being ‘bad.’ The mass media…

Part of being a teenager is trying to identify themselves and figure out where they belong in life. J.D Salinger, the author of the novel Catcher in the Rye, introduces a character who a conflicted teenage boy that is trying to figure out his identity and where he stands in the world. After being kicked out of his fourth private school, Pencey Prep School, Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, takes a 48-hour trip to New York in order to avoid confronting his parents until Wednesday,…

“Aria” by Richard Rodriguez is an essay that shows the readers a part of life that many have never experienced. Rodriguez uses this essay to show how he fights through his childhood tounderstand English. He faces society while forfeiting his happy home life trying to become a typical English-speaking student.He establishes a connection with the audience through his personal experience as a child. He uses imagery and narration to clarify his opposition to bilingual education .Rodriguez also uses…

Holden Caulfield has not had a great past and is not a simple person. He is up and then down. When Holden was young, his younger brother Allie died. His brother died from leukemia on July 18, 1946, when he was thirteen years old. That night Allie died, Holden had a mental break down, and broke all the windows in his garage with his bare hands. With him being hospitalized for his hands, he never made it to Allie’s funeral, and never had any closure. Holden is now an adult, but he still has…

Adam Farmer, the main protagonist, is on a journey to find his father in a far away town called Rutterburg, Vermont with a secret package for him. Since the events in the book aren’t in chronological order he’s simultaneously in an institution and these portions of the book are written as if they were recorded audio tapes. As the chapters go by, more mysteries arise from Adam’s and his parents’ past. Adam is a young teenage boy, he’s sensitive, shy/paranoid, and a well-read student. His personal…

J.D. Salinger wrote and released “The Catcher In The Rye” in July 16, 1951. The story is about a young boy who had many problems, especially the fear of change and growing up. Holden Caulfield is a 16 year old boy who has been expelled from school four times. Salinger uses symbolism to show Holden’s thoughts and feelings and to describe his personality too. Salinger does this because Holden is not mature enough to see these things for himself. Holden is going through a very hard time in the…

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a story about childhood, and of finding one’s self in society. It is the story of Holden Caulfield and his everyday encounters and problems with other people in society. The story depicts a week in the life of Holden, a week full of events and encounters that permanently change his life forever. In the Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger uses the character of Holden Caulfield, conflict, and setting to convey the theme that although the world may seem to be…