Holden's Crisis With Adolescence in The Catcher in the Rye
analytical Essay
797 words
“Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” - Martin Luther King Jr. Symbols are not defined by words, but by the way one feels toward it. The emotional connection between a symbol and a person can only be showed through the heart and soul. In the Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger uses symbolism to show Holdens contradictory personality and his crisis with adolescences.
Holden wants answers to questions that cannot have a straight solution because there could be a variety of answers. In chapter 9, Holden is on his way to his hotel and ask the cab driver, “You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park? That little lake? Do you know where the ducks go when it’s all frozen over?” The cab driver thinks Holden is crazy for asking this question, but this is not just a question; the ducks in the lagoon represents two different symbols. First is that the ducks can represent Allie, while the winter represents the afterlife. Holden is asking what happens to Allie now that his dead? Where does he go and what happens to his soul? Secondly, according to http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/themes.html, the pond is in two separate states, partly frozen and frozen, just as Holden is in transition between childhood and adulthood; showing that he wants to know what is going to happen to him, how will his life change if he decides to mature.
Holden is keeping his anger about the death of Allie under his red hunter’s hat. According to http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/54270, they believe the hat is significant because Holden is hunting for the...
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Holden contradictory personality is the effect of his crisis with adolescence. Holden lost his brother, his best friend as a child and this affected him ways that cannot be explained. At www.psyking.net/id183.htm, G. Stanler Hall writes, “The qualities of goodness and virtue are never so pure, but never again does temptation preoccupy the adolescents thinking.” As a result of losing his best friend, Holden shut himself out of society, and uses these symbols to stay close to the few things that he holds close to his heart. He doesn’t let anyone in out of fear of losing them, when really he is trying to protect himself from transitioning into an adult. He wants to do the same for other children that he claims will turn into phonies at adulthood if he doesn’t become a catcher in a rye. Holden uses these symbols as a way to preserve his childhood.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how symbols are not defined by words, but by the way one feels toward them. in the catcher in the rye, j.d salinger uses symbolism to show holden's contradictory personality and his crisis with adolescence.
- Analyzes how holden wants answers to questions that could be a variety of answers. the ducks in the lagoon represent two different symbols.
- Analyzes how holden keeps his anger about the death of allie under his red hunter's hat, which symbolizes his love for him and the fact that he misses him.
- Analyzes how holden's visions change, especially a transition from one state to another. he visits the museum of natural history where he says, "nobody'd be different.
- Analyzes how holden's contradictory personality is the effect of his crisis with adolescence.
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- Holden's Disillusionment In The Catcher In The Ryeanalytical essayThe Catcher in the Rye revolves around Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, and his disillusionment. Holden’s disillusionment illustrates that he has a problem accepting such. Aforesaid is based upon multiple factors, most which have brought Holden lasting traumas. A remedy is required for Holden to accept his disillusionment and enable an improvement of his situation. For Holden’s remedy, the consultation of psychologists, and additional specialized health professionals would be the core of an apt remedy for Holden’s psychological and physiological state based upon the numerous causes of such and the everlasting trauma of some of the determinants of aforesaid situation. The origins of Holden’s disillusionment revolved mainly around the death of his younger brother Allie three years ago, of which he still experiences the trauma to this day. His disillusionment is caused by both
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the catcher in the rye revolves around holden caulfield's disillusionment, which illustrates that he has a problem accepting such.
- Analyzes how holden's disillusionment began with the death of his younger brother, allie, three years ago.
- Illustrates the fondness and wish for right that holden still has towards allie even though he has been dead for multiple years.
737 wordsRead More - Holden in The Catcher in The Ryeanalytical essayThe author has put in plenty of themes, messages, ideas, issues, and motifs. The character, Holden Caulfield is alienated from society, is experiencing the painfulness of growing up, thinks that the adult world is full of phoniness, and is sick of hearing about the American Dream from his teachers. JD Salinger has created a book that has raised plenty of questions and controversy towards the readers. The Catcher in the Rye shows how a teenage mind works. JD Salinger has used a stream of consciousness writing style where the character (Holden Caulfield) talks in first person as he presents his thoughts and feelings to the readers. The setting has taken place in the early fifties and the book uses a lot of profane words. The New York vernacular helps to explain the plot and help define the character.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how jd salinger has created a book that has raised plenty of questions and controversy towards the readers.
- Analyzes how holden wears a red hunting hat to show that he is rebelling against the law. he imagines that childhood is life while adulthood is death.
- Analyzes how holden's fears change as he enters the museum of national history. he is afraid to admit fear but only admits it in a few instances.
- Analyzes how caulfield's loneliness is one of the main motifs throughout the novel. relationships, intimacy, and sexuality are some of his fears the most from the adult world.
- Analyzes how holden's definition of phoniness relies on a kind of self-deception. he despises people who lie.
- Narrates how the two boys and holden walk around the museum looking for the mummy area. they think about the future when he dies that somebody will probably write "fuck you" on his tombstone.
- Analyzes how holden's curiosity about the ducks in the central park shows his youthful and curious side of his personality.
- Analyzes how holden's song "comin' thro' the rye" pinpoints if two people could be together in a field away from public eye.
1606 wordsRead More - Free Catcher in the Rye Essays: Symbols and Symbolismanalytical essayThroughout the novel, the reader is presented with many different symbols. The symbols are clearly seen by Holden's constant repetition of their importance. The symbols are so important and their symbolism is directly related to the major themes of the novel.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how holden asks what happens to the ducks in central park when the water freezes. he doesn't consciously realize that they relate to him.
- Analyzes how holden decides not to go to the museum of natural history because he likes the glass cases that the museum officials place all of their exhibits in.
- Analyzes how catcher in the rye was a powerful and symbolic book written from the position of an troubled teenager. the themes are clearly illustrated through the symbols.
- Analyzes how j. d. salinger's "the catcher in the rye", published in 1951, is his best piece of work.
826 wordsRead More - Holden's Pessimistic View of the World in The Catcher in the Ryeanalytical essayLies, failure, depression, and loneliness are only some of the aspects that Holden Caulfield goes through in the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger. Salinger reflects Holden’s character through his own childhood experiences. Salinger admitted in a 1953 interview that "My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book.… [I]t was a great relief telling people about it” (Wikipedia). Thus, the book is somewhat the life story of J.D. Salinger as a reckless seventeen-year-old who lives in New York City and goes through awful hardships after his expulsion and departure from an elite prep school. Holden, the protagonist in this novel, is created as a depressed, cynical, and isolated character and he expresses this attitude through his dialogue, tone, and diction.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how j.d. salinger's novel the catcher in the rye portrays holden as a depressed, cynical, and isolated character.
- Analyzes how holden caulfield conveys his melancholy, sarcasm, and seclusion through his dialogue. he expresses confusion and unhappiness but mostly is confused to why he is unhappy.
- Analyzes how holden's tone is based on sarcasm and rudeness which shapes him as a character. his tone towards the world is careless because he doesn't care about being nice to anyone.
- Analyzes how j.d. salinger's the catcher in the rye portrays holden as a miserable, distrustful, and lonely character through diction.
826 wordsRead More - Towards the end of the novel, he sees his old soul of a sister, Phoebe, whom he constantly refers to as “old” is still so innocent because she is wearing his hat and carrying his suitcase. This makes him realize that she is following directly step by step behind making him change his mind about running away from home. Holden has found his identity, he wants to be the catcher in the rye, the one to save the children from falling off the cliff into adulthood. Holden is just a huge phony because he tells himself he doesn’t care, although the only reason he complains is because he does care and can’t deal with his feelings like any other teen. It is nearly ironic those who criticize the book because of the hundreds of thousands of teenagers who can relate to this novel forget who raised those hundreds of thousands of teenagers.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how holden is interested in sex, but spends most of the novel trying to lose it. he wants to hold on to his virginity because it symbolizes innocence.
- Analyzes how holden is judgmental and uses the word phony to describe people who are boring, insecure, and crass. he believes people to be superficial by rejecting more complex judgments in favor of a simpler category.
- Analyzes how holden caulfield's experiences illustrate the divide between adults and teenagers at constant odds, the transition of innocence and the ugly of hypocrisy, and identity crisis.
- Analyzes how holden sees his old soul of a sister, phoebe, who is still so innocent because she is wearing his hat and carrying his suitcase.
- Analyzes how j.d. salinger's catcher in the rye, a controversial american literature book, went into full turbulence and had all the attention of critics everywhere.
1066 wordsRead More - Catcher In The Rye Adolescence Essayanalytical essayIn J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden Caufield believes that innocence is corrupted by society. He exposes his self-inflicted emotional struggles as he is reminiscing the past. For Holden, teenage adolescence is a complicated time for him, his teenage mentality in allows him to transition from the teenage era to the reality of an adult in the real world. As he is struggling to find his own meaning of life, he cares less about others and worries about how he can be a hero not only to himself but also to the innocent youth. As Holden is grasping the idea of growing up, he sets his priorities of where he belongs and how to establish it. As he talks about how ‘phony’ the outside world is, he has specific recollections that signify importance to his life and he uses these time and time again because these memories are ones that he wont ever let go of. The death of his younger brother Allie has had a major impact on him emotionally and mentally. The freedom of the ducks in Central Park symbolize his ‘get away’ from reality into his own world. His ideology of letting kids grow up and breaking the chain loose to discover for themselves portrays the carrousel and the gold ring. These are three major moments that will be explored to understand the life of Holden Caufield and his significant personal encounters as he transitions from adolescence into manhood.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how holden caufield's teenage mentality allows him to transition from the teenage era to the reality of an adult in the real world.
- Analyzes how the admiration that holden holds for certain characters is well expressed, especially about his younger brother allie, who is spoken remarkably of.
- Analyzes how holden's life has always been about desired escape. his parents aren't able to be there for him as he struggles to find his place in society.
- Analyzes holden's lenient behavior when he watches his younger sister phoebe on the carrousel.
- Explains that holden caufield has specific moments where he can recall and apply them wherever in life. his fascination with ducks has made him realize that nothing is ever permanent and no one can always be there for when one falls.
889 wordsRead More - The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salingeranalytical essayHolden is like most teenagers: he’s trying to find his place in society without having any sort of direction. One of the main reasons this is hard for Holden is because he doesn’t have any role models and is misguided. His brother D.B. lives all the way in Hollywood “being a prostitute” (Salinger 2) and he resents his parents. Everyone around him seems to be “phonies “and Holden is continuously trying to be different but notices that the lifestyle he wants just doesn’t fit in the world he lives in . He constantly rejects certain ways of living but can’t seem to find the purpose for his own and because of this he criticizes the life of the...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how j.d. salinger's the catcher in the rye is one of the most controversial and timeless books written in our history.
- Analyzes how holden is trying to find his place in society without having any sort of direction. his brother d.b. lives all the way in hollywood "being a prostitute" and resents his parents.
- Analyzes how holden searches for acceptance from his peers, but has a hard time forming meaningful friendships. he needs someone to care from him, and the only person who cares about him is his sister phoebe.
- Analyzes how holden builds a stronger connection with his younger sister phoebe. he wants to be the one that saves children from losing their innocence.
- Analyzes how holden's life is ultimately a failure. he failed to complete high school, to find real purpose for living, and to be the only role model phoebe has.
- Analyzes how holden has turned to sex, smoking, alcohol, and has even had thoughts of suicide. the death of his brother ultimately is the reason for his insanity.
- Recommends that holden caulfield come up with a better purpose for his life other than his unrealistic idea of saving all children from losing their innocence.
1268 wordsRead More - catcher in the ryeanalytical essayIn J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, a young man named Holden Caulfield goes through many misadventures during a three day stay in New York. Holden acts like a careless teenager but the reader gets the feeling that he cared once and wishes that he could again. He has what is almost an obsession with death and is constantly dwelling on the death of his brother Allie, who died of leukemia. He carries Allie’s baseball mitt with him wherever he goes. He was obviously very disturbed by Allie’s death as he broke all the windows in his garage with his bare fist with such force that his hand is still messed up. His feelings toward people and relationships tend to lean toward the negative side. He usually expects the worst, part of that seems to be issues he has from the loss of his brother Allie. One of the words he uses often throughout the novel is phony. He values honesty and sincerity, and can’t stand people who try to make themselves look better in the eyes of others. He flunks out of every school that his parents send him to including Pency, his current school. He seems to be fairly intelligent and the reader gets a sense that his problems in school are the result of lack of motivation. He isolates himself from those around him and seems to be afraid of change; always assuming it will be for the worst. He seems to have a great deal of love and respect for his sister Phoebe and his dead brother Allie. Holden is a very complex character and is difficult to understand.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how holden caulfield is a complex character in j.d. salinger's the catcher in the rye.
- Analyzes how holden's story begins on top of a hill overlooking the football stadium at pency.
- Analyzes how the first-person narration gave the reader more insight into who holden is and what he feels and thinks. it is a well-written book and interesting.
- Recommends this book to people who love to read and who have a love for great literature, but many people would lack appreciation for how well it is written and the story it tells.
735 wordsRead More - Free Catcher in the Rye Essays: Holden as the Typical Teenageranalytical essayHolden as the Typical Teenager of Today Holden Caulfield, portrayed in the J.D. Salinger novel Catcher in the Rye as an adolescent struggling to find his own identity, possesses many characteristics that easily link him to the typical teenager living today. The fact that the book was written many years ago clearly exemplifies the timeless nature of this work. Holden's actions are those that any teenager can clearly relate with. The desire for independence, the sexually related encounters, and the questioning of ones religion are issues that almost all teens have had or will have to deal with in their adolescent years. The novel and its main character's experiences can easily be related to and will forever link Holden with every member of society, because everyone in the world was or will be a teen sometime in their life.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how j.d. salinger's catcher in the rye portrays holden caulfield as an adolescent struggling to find his identity.
- Analyzes how holden's desire for independence is evident in the novel. he has lived his entire life in dorms at prestigious schools and has learned how to be independent.
- Explains that a teenager, usually of the male gender, would be the widespread subject of sex. holden is no different.
- Compares holden's sex mania to that of the average teen in that he never has sexual intercourse with a prostitute.
- Analyzes how teenagers are forced to choose between sex and religion. holden, an atheist, sometimes prays to jesus, but he's suspicious of the disciples and other characters from the bible.
- Opines that the disciples annoy the hell out of them. they were all right after jesus was dead and all, but while he was alive, they were about as much use to him as a hole in the head.
- Analyzes how holden caulfield resembles the typical teen, as he has gone through the same situations, encountered many problems, and acted in similar ways. teenage adolescence is transition between childhood and adulthood.
1021 wordsRead More - Relationships with Holden in The Catcher in the Ryeopinion essayRelationships with Holden in The Catcher in the Rye ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is written from a first person narrative to be able to convey to the reader Holdens thoughts and feelings and this makes his character seem more believable. Holden describes what he himself sees and experiences, providing his own commentary on the events and people he describes. It takes the form of, perhaps, a session with a psychoanalyst or a one sided conversation with the reader during which Holdens attitudes to other people emerges. We learn that he finds it very difficult to maintain relationships with people and I will be examining Holden’s relationship with adults and with his sister and how they differ.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how he does not like to talk about his subjects.
- Explains that life is a game that one plays according to the summary.
- Opines that if you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it’s a game.
- Analyzes how he feels alone and that the world is against him.
- Opines that they can go on for hours if they feel like it.
- Opines that he lies about his own name, which goes as far as lying about it.
- Opines that he was so damn sleepy all of a sudden.
- Opines that holden is very fond of his little sister and wants to buy her a house.
- Opines that phoebe will accept him for what he is.
- Explains that once a person gets the help they need, he can begin to get his life back on track.
1951 wordsRead More