Catcher In The Rye

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Recommended: Influence of literature on society

"If the literature we are reading does not wake us, why then do we read it? A literary work must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us." - Franz Kafka

This quote from Franz Kafka explains that the value that literature can have to a person. When an author writes a piece of literature the author must connect, and awaken the readers sole. He must bring new life to the readers thoughts and ideas and awaken their sole. The ice-axe in Kafka’s quote is the pen of the author, while the sea frozen inside us is the mind and thoughts of the reader. If the athour does not break the sea frozen inside the reader, then the author has failed. Trully great literary works awaken the sole, deeply connect with readers, and change the readers outlook in the world. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger breaks the sea frozen inside American youth by depicitng a young boys path through rebellion against school in the 1950s.

This quotation exemplafies that all works of literature are not of equal value. The Catcher In The Rye awakens the soul of youth across America and the rest of the world. Holden, just as many young students is struggling in school and coping to find their place in life. As young readers follow Holden on his journeys, many are in similar shoes to the main character of the novel. This in turn, can change the readers perspective, as they have a direct connection to the main character in the novel. The Catcher In The Rye is a valuable piece of literature that can help teach children across the globe the value of education even when failure seems inevitable.

The main conflict in The Catcher in The Rye is Holden’s struggle vs. society (Man VS Society). The novel is based around Holden’s struggle to find his place in life among schools such as Pency Prep. Many young people across the world are in the same struggle, trying ti find their palce in life, and constantly struggling upstream against society. The value of a book like this is significant because it educates the youth of the world on the struggles of finding your palce in life, and greatly relates to our youth on a personal level.

The second conflict in the novel s is Holden’s struggle VS himself (Man VS Self).

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