The
Coming of Age Essay In the novel Catcher in the Rye, author J.D. Salinger captures the essence of maturity. Salinger’s character Holden Caulfield is an immature adolescent who lacks in aspirations. Throughout the novel, readers witness Holden evolve into a mature young man and finally find his true calling. Holden reaches a pivotal moment where he finally matures morally. Holden’s moment of maturity occurred when he realized he wanted to be a catcher in the rye. Salinger’s use of symbolism plays…
Words 382 - Pages 2
novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger expresses the free will of choice. Salinger cleverly conveys how decisions can alter a person’s perspective of their peer. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, is a young teenager who has emotional instability and behavioral concerns. Holden acts immaturely extensively throughout the book. Holden invents a world where adulthood is the emblem of superficiality and “phoniness”, while he chooses to convey childhood as a world of innocence. Holden’s observation…
Words 1393 - Pages 6
realities.” Throughout the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden's red hunting cap helps symbolize him as a person and what he stands for. Throughout the following days of getting kicked out of a prestigious boarding school, seventeen year old Holden Caulfield explores the city of New York in search of finding his purpose in life. The novel uses symbolism many times, three significant symbols are Holden's dream job of being the Catcher in The Rye, the ducks in the Central Park Lagoon…
Words 650 - Pages 3
In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Holden Caulfield is a boy of rebellion, disrespecting authority, suffering from feelings of neglect and striving to keep the youth in young generations. Throughout the novel Holden figures out what he wants to be and what he aspires to do. He wants to be the “Catcher in the Rye.” By being the Catcher in the Rye Holden’s job is to save the children of the world that are in the rye that is their youth and innocence from falling over the edge of it into the…
Words 538 - Pages 3
narrates in J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye." Holden is seventeen and is at that point in his life where he needs to grow up and become an adult, but Holden would rather stay a child than follow the "template" or traditions of society. This "template" would be to go to school as a young child up into adolescence, and then to go to work with a suit and tie everyday. Holden does not want to follow this routine so he stands in the rye which symbolizes the stage of childhood, and catches them before…
Words 472 - Pages 2
9/5/14 Integrity In Catcher in The Rye Holden Marshall does have some flaws, but Salinger does give him a definite set of morals. Holden shows his integrity by displaying respect for women, protecting the innocence of youth, and being honest and unpretentious. However, Holden’s standards are so high that nobody can give him what he wants. In Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses Holden’s pickiness in evaluating people to illustrate how no one can meet up to his very high standards of one’s…
Words 396 - Pages 2
In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield demonstrates the characteristics of an anti-hero. The death of Holden’s younger brother, Allie, greatly affects his perspective on life. Holden is failing almost every subject at Pencey Prep, so he leaves school. Considering he does not want to face his parents with the news of him getting kicked out of school again, Holden wanders the streets of New York alone until he is expected to be home. Holden is an anti-hero because of his…
Words 797 - Pages 4
The Catcher in the Rye “Is The Catcher in the Rye, as a work of literature still relevant for today’s youth?” Name: Sara Sigurdson Course: English A1 Supervisor: Mr. Peter Steadman Word count: 3851 Candidate number: 00136022 Table of Contents Content Page Number Abstract 3 Introduction 4 The Actual Catcher in the Rye 4 The Sexual Matter 5 The Caulfield Family 6 Narrator and Protagonist 8 Role Model 9 Mr. Antolini 10 Targeted Audience 10 Guidance 12…
Words 4410 - Pages 18
always the best experience, but everyone must go through this phase. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye explores how adult life appears complex and incomprehensible to teenagers on the brink of entering it. Holden Caulfield’s transition from being a pessimistic and antagonistic teenager to a caring mature adult is clearly evident throughout the novel. The meaning of The Catcher in the Rye represents Holden’s view of himself as an intermediary of children who aren’t even aware of his existence.…
Words 681 - Pages 3
imagery. Throughout J. D. Salingers’ novel, The Catcher and the Rye, the ducks that inhabit the pond within Central Park, as well as their flight South to avoid the harsh winter, is admired by the main protagonist Holden. Holden’s interest in the ducks provides context for Foster’s idea that flight represents a desire to be free while symbolizing Holden’s own wish to escape the responsibilities of the adult world. In the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden…
Words 414 - Pages 2