Holden Caulfield Indirect Characterization

Words: 1383
Pages: 6

What is the root cause of development and unveiling in a teenager’s mind? Most likely, it comes from the emotional advancement gained through confrontational episodes that permit their inner selves to be exhibited as they grow and represent themselves as human beings. Through informational scenes like these, spectators and even the ones experiencing these moments firsthand can understand their finer personality with better grounding, which is unable to occur without challenging and psychic instants that drive them to grow and evolve. In the Catcher in the Rye, the author, J.D. Salinger makes specific choices to utilize the constructive purposes of indirect characterization by exposing the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, to various confrontational situations, in which his veracious, emotionally stunted personality shines through. J.D. Salinger illuminates his unique identity as well as his state of mind and ideals of the world around him, which are brought to light through his different interactions with many characters that allow his …show more content…
Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the Catcher in the Rye, is a vessel to convey this message through the varying ways indirect characterization is implemented to understand his nature, ideals of the world, and ability to grasp moments like these. Following the vitally integral points of the story, his character can be seen for its true essence when he is faced with barriers that present themselves through enemies that seek to attack and overcome him. While he fantasizes about his own stories and outlandish outcomes, they are meaningless and incoherent when his power and resolve to make his dreams a reality is absent. Ultimately, actions will always speak louder than