The novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D Salinger is a Bildungsroman's novel- a coming of age novel that depicts a young protagonist becoming an adult that goes through hardships. This novel is written in a stream of consciousness style which is a steady flow of uninterrupted thought. This work of literature was written from a psychological view with the employment of complexes. A complex is a core pattern of emotions, memories, and wishes in the personal unconscious. A complex is a psychoanalytic term created by the psychologist Sigmund Freud. The complexes are depicted through symbolism. Symbolism is a tangible object that portrays an intangible idea, they are timeless and universal. The literature represents a young protagonist, Holden …show more content…
The Peter Pan Complex is a condition customarily concerning males, in which a person refuses to accept the adult world and alternatively relies on the behavior and the reality of a substantial younger self. Those with the complex may grow in physical appearance into an adult, however, have chosen to hold onto their childhood. This condition cannot be inherited. This phobia could be caused by: over-protective parents (parents who would not permit the child to confront its own predicaments), neglect (the child is incompetent to behave properly as an adult due to the absence of self-discipline), anxiety (family issues can influence the perception of being undesired and the fear of criticism) and loneliness (the poverty of attention). It is apprehended that those with the Peter Pan Complex have extremely low self-esteem, are unmotivated and feel depressed, they do not exhibit self-confidence, motivation or determination. The avoidance of growing up, the inability to building strong relationships, excessive or no emotion, extreme anger or panic, self-pity, depression, difficulty expressing love, the feeling of guilt, difficulty relaxing, manipulative tendencies, and abusing drugs or alcohol are all symptoms of the Peter Pan Syndrome. Holden Caulfield agonizes from the Peter Pan Complex. Holden appears not to admire the impression of growing due to his observation of society and the adult world. Caulfield
Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye follows the journey of a young boy, Holden Caulfield, from adolescence to adulthood. There are a number of symbols that Salinger uses to help to portray the various stages that Holden goes through as he matures into adulthood. The snowball incident, his sense of fulfillment when at the museum, and his run in with a pimp, are all representations of how Holden is deeply obsessed with innocence thoughts and how reluctant he is to give them up.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is a popular novel that was originally published in the 1950’s. In the book, Salinger explores various themes through the main character Holden and his interactions with others. Some of these themes include, alienation, loss and betrayal. Holden constantly feels betrayed throughout the novel by several people, including his roommate, teacher, and sister.
The novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, depicts a boy named Holden Caulfield whose psyche ultimately impacts his mental state. Throughout the novel Holden’s mental state gradually becomes affected by this damaged psyche. He either demonstrates the id or the superego, and rarely his ego. Holden’s psyche appears in the id, superego, and ego forms.
The Catcher in the Rye is a story about a teenage rebel who is exploring the world on his own. The author, Salinger, uses many tools to deepen the impression on the reader such as linking the title to the story in an intricate way or creating a complex name for the protagonist. The symbols used in The Catcher in the Rye are there for a just reason, an example being how the author used the title, which is also a poem, as a symbol. Salinger uses the geographical locations, such as the Museum of Natural History, as symbols as well.
The theme of The Catcher in the Rye is simple. J. D. Salinger uses this novel to draw a clear distinction between the purity of childhood and the wickedness attained when one reaches adulthood. Salinger uses multiple literary devices including diction, symbolism, tone, and even the title of the novel to drive home his ideas about the innocence of children and the corruption of the world.
American Literature is widely known for possessing themes of disillusionment. Faulkner, Harper Lee, Fitzgerald, and Hemingway dominate this category of literature. However, the most influential piece of American Literature is arguably J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. What makes this piece of art stand so far out from any other work of literature is the attributes that make this novel so relatable. The source of this raw, real emotion that completely captivates the reader is Salinger himself. The Catcher in the Rye ‘s main character Holden Caulfield is undeniably Salinger. This work of fiction nearly resembles an autobiography. J.D. Salinger uses his novel to express his disillusionment through motifs, pathos, and symbols.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is an enthralling and captivating novel about a boy and his struggle with life. The teenage boy ,Holden, is in turmoil with school, loneliness, and finding his place in the world. The author J.D. Salinger examines the many sides of behavior and moral dilemma of many characters throughout the novel. The author develops three distinct character types for Holden the confused and struggling teenage boy, Ackley, a peculiar boy without many friends, and Phoebe, a funny and kindhearted young girl.
The Catcher in the Rye has been described, analyzed, rebuffed, and critiqued over the years. Each writer expresses a different point of view: It is a story reflecting teen-ager's talk--thoughts-emotions--actions; or angst. I believe it is an adult's reflection of his own unresolved grief and bereavements. That adult is the author, J.D. Salinger. He uses his main character, Holden, as the voice to vent the psychological misery he will not expose -or admit to.
Holden Caulfield is a sixteen-year-old who explores New York City after he is expelled from his prep school (Salinger). He cannot return back home because he is afraid of his parents’ response and takes no responsibility for his actions whatsoever. Holden hates the adult world, where he calls all adults “phonies.” In his world, one can’t go back to childhood, but one can’t grow up because that will make one a phony (Bloom, The Catcher in the Rye 124). Holden is stuck in between a world, where he doesn’t want to remain a child or grow up into the adult he is expected to become. According to Chen, Holden fears the “complexity, unpredictability, conflict, and change” of the adult world. He occasionally acts like an adult, when he hires a prostitute (Salinger 119), checks into a hotel room (Salinger 79), and takes care of his sister, Phoebe. As a result of Holden’s immense fear of growing up, he tends to partake in childish tendencies, such as wearing a bright red hunting hat. These actions are his way of isolating and protecting himself. Holden is stuck in his own little world. These actions are very immature; Holden does not accept the adult world for what it is. He needs human contact, care, and love, but he has built a barrier, preventing himself from these interactions (Chen). He also acts like a child by acting out “pretend” scenarios even when no one is
The Catcher in the Rye is a historical fiction novel by J.D Salinger. The book starts with Holden Caulfield, the main character, explaining a little about himself and goes on to tell his story of what happened after he left Pencey. Everyone strives to set themselves to a place in life where they feel safe, comfortable, and secure, that is the American dream. The journey to achieve this dream is known as the American experience. In the novel, Holden tries to act and look older. He reflects on his shortcomings and the setbacks in life, and leaves to collect himself, all reflecting elements of the American experience.
...p between Gene and Finny. On the other hand, J.D. Salinger’s theme in The Catcher in the Rye was developing through adolescence with depression and confusion in your life. Through the point of view of Holden’s place, his attitude and experience he went through discerned that stress was a big issue to him and struggling through depression as a teen and achieving maturity from it is something the most of us could relate to. Overall, both of the themes in the novels have something to do with social events in our lives and both of the themes became interesting appeals.
The period of adolescence is one of growth. There will be necessary physiological, sexual, and mental changes in a person during this period, therefore making it one of the most important sections of life. If an error is found during the growth of an adolescent, it must be corrected. Holden Caulfield, is an erred adolescent, so he must be fixed. This paper will present a diagnosis for Holden, provide evidence for this claim, provide a hypothetical source for his syndrome, and then recommend a course of treatment.
“Catcher in the Rye”, written by J.D Salinger, is a coming-of-age novel. Narrated by the main character, Holden Caulfield, he recounts the days following his expulsion from his school. This novel feels like the unedited thoughts and feelings of a teenage boy, as Holden narrates as if he is talking directly to readers like me. I dislike “Catcher in the Rye”. There seems to be no actual, concrete plot to this novel.
Peter Pan syndrome is a psychological state in which one refuses to transition from childhood to adulthood. Many people suffer from Peter Pan syndrome due to traumatic events or selfish reasons. J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan demonstrates how Peter Pan suffers from Peter Pan syndrome for selfish reasons. Instead of looking beyond his own needs, Peter Pan does whatever is in his best interest. However, Holden Caufield in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in The Rye suffers from Peter Pan syndrome not due to selfish reasons, but because he cares about others and their childhood. Peter Pan and Holden both suffer from Peter Pan syndrome as demonstrated through the refusal to grow up, and the refusal to lose their innocence; however, Holden learns to move on while Peter Pan remains trapped in time.
In J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the first person narration played a critical role in helping the reader to know and understand the main character, Holden Caulfield. Salinger also uses symbolism to help portray the theme that not everything that glitters is gold. Holden, in his narration, relates a flashback of a significant period of his life, three days and nights on his own in New York City. Through his narration, Holden discloses to the reader his innermost thoughts and also helps to introduce the reader to many of the symbols strategically placed throughout the novel. He thus provides the reader with not only information of what occurred, but also how he felt about what happened. In the Catcher in the Rye, Holden views the world as an evil and corrupt place where there is no peace. This perception of the world does not significantly change through the course of the novel. However, with the novel’s progression, Holden gradually comes to the realization that he is powerless to change the state of the world.