Essay, Research Paper

Holden Caulfield is the controversial character in The Catcher in the

Rye. He goes through many alterations throughout the novel as he matures from

a kid to an grownup. In this book, he is portrayed as a baffled adolescent seeking

to happen his topographic point in the? loony? universe, while knocking his enemies and

beliing himself. The manner he presents himself throughout the novel

allows readers to associate to him better. His experiences and his ideas vary,

but still go around around one chief centre of gravitation which the writer, J.D.

Salinger, clearly establishes.

Holden has many distinguishable features that set him apart from his

equals. There is one job that he can non get away, and that is lying. Holden

prevarications to everyone including two nuns that he meets in a diner. Another thing is

his linguistic communication. ? This is representative of the typical adolescence of his clip

and topographic point and declarative mood of his personal frights and frustrations. ? ( Magill,

Magill? s & # 8230 ; 1803 ) . He is 16 old ages old and a junior at Pencey Prep School

in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. His age ties in to his openness. Holden frequently

expresses his feelings because he is at the age where he does non truly care

about others. He is non afraid to state people what he thinks or how he experience

about them. Holden criticizes people for the small things that they do. He

stereotypes them merely by the things that he notices about them.

Throughout the narrative, Holden seems to hold a end set for himself.

This quest involves the preserving of artlessness. He believes that if a kid

can be saved from the barbarous universe and things in it, they will be spared.

Another thing in this journey is that he is looking for an ideal, but un-human

love that will run into all demands. This means that he will hold a love for

everyone that is unconditioned and that he will recieve love from everyone

else. Finally, the most of import undertaking, is the hunt for an individuality. He is

invariably seeking to happen his true ego amongst all the immoralities of the universe. Subsequently

on, Holden realizes he can accomplish none of this ( Unger 555 ) .

The household is truly non emphasized much in the context of this book.

Holden does non of all time look to his household for aid with his battles or for

counsel along the manner. Although he does advert his two brothers D.B.

and Allie, the lone member he connects with is his younger sister, Phoebe.

They seem to portion a common bond that links them to each other. His

parents ne’er truly offer him the? shelter? that he is looking for. He is

invariably seeking for person or something to turn to when he needs aid,

but considers none of his household members ( Magill, Critical & # 8230 ; 2935 ) . Holden? s

parents are considered affluent and supply him with expensive, top of the

line baggage. Their lone defect mentioned is that they are excessively busy and do non

understand him.

There is much sarcasm scattered throughout Holden? s narrative. One

illustration is how, from the really beginning of the novel, he tells of cardinal things

that he detests, like when people repeat things invariably over and over. He

does non recognize that right after he says this, he contradicts himself and does

the things he says he hates. It is besides dry how Holden despises his

roomie, Stradlater. He is ever kicking about what a hypocrite that he

is and how he is a secret sloven. Yet, at some points, Holden remarks that he

would non mind being like him. His inhuman treatment toward others and his defeat

over his ain errors merely blend together ( Lieder 2 ) .

& lt ;< p>Symbolism is another subject that runs throughout the novel. Holden

has a dream that one twenty-four hours he can be the ultimate defender of all kids. He

wants to salvage these kids from being exposed to the evil universe we live in.

His dream is counterbalanced by a feeling of falling that he ever gets.

These two things seem to run into in his thought of a perfect universe and everything

ever stays the same ( Unger 557 ) . Time is besides used as a type of

symbolism. The scene of the novel is in the cold, and in the center of

winter. Time to observe Christmas, the stoping of one twelvemonth and awaiting of

another in a clip of termination. Holden? s narrative is one of decease to his

stripling ego and a metempsychosis to a new refreshed and mature Holden ( Unger 556 ) . This book can besides be seen as a turning procedure. At the beginning, he

is immature and so as he approaches maturity, he starts to acquire nervous and

worried of what lies in front ( Magill, Critical & # 8230 ; 2935 ) . The universe is besides used

in showing symbolism. It is frequently used to stand for the? lunacy? and

? inhuman treatment? that ruins people. Holden refers to it when he is speaking of the

at hand autumn from artlessness ( Magill, Magill? s & # 8230 ; 1803-1804 ) .

Holden experiences many alterations as the maturating procedure goes on.

He realizes that he can non be the? backstop in the rye. ? The kids are traveling

to be transformed and effected by the universe in some manner, no affair how difficult

he tries to forestall it. He is besides reborn to a cognition of the universe around

him. This refocuses the manner he thinks. He, himself is transformed. He

recognize his ain phoniness and misrepresentation toward others. This is a major measure.

The chief thing that happens is that he obtains a love for everything. Through

this he finds his true individuality and learns the construct of compassion. Through

these alterations he becomes peaceable. ? A subsister who eventually achieves peace

of mind. ? ( Hipple 106 ) . Holden besides realizes that even though he misses

everyone, he merely truly respected all kids and the two nuns.

Holden Caulfield was confused, he criticized a batch of people, but he

besides made some people think better of themselves through lying. In this

book, The Catcher in the Rye, he penetrates his ain phoniness, in a kind of

retrospect, and realizes his mistakes. ? This represents a mature cognition that

prevarications at the novel? s centre of gravity. ? ( Unger 555 ) . After coming to these

decisions, it puts an terminal to all the battles that Holden went through to acquire

where he eventually ended up.

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September 12, 2000.

Lieder, Tim. & # 8220 ; So where do the ducks go in winter? & # 8221 ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.geocites.com /SoHo/gallery/7466/catcher-rye.html. September 12, 2000.

Magill, Frank N. , erectile dysfunction. & # 8220 ; J.D. Salinger. & # 8221 ; Critical Survey of Long Fiction: English Language Series, Revised Edition. Volume 6. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1991.

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Unger, Leonard, erectile dysfunction. & # 8220 ; J.D. Salinger & # 8221 ; American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. Volume 3. New York: Charles Scribner & # 8217 ; s Sons, 1974.