Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye The novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, is a tale of a seventeen year old boy who struggles to fit in with the conservative crowd of the late forties to early fifties. The boy, Holden Caulfield, is often looked at as troubled or disconnected with the world around him. Throughout the novel Holden references certain people, places, and items multiple times. When this occurs we can presume that these represent symbols in Holden’s life. The major representations
to help form major themes throughout the novel. The story focuses on a sixteen year old boy, Holden Caulfield, who has just been expelled from his third school. Holden decides to leave his school, Pency Prep early and stays in New York for three days to pass the time. There he begins to see recurring symbols that all together develope from items into symbols reflecting Holden’s self and mindset. As Holden spends his three days in New York three major item help symbolize his struggling through his
represents Holden’s major conflict in the book. Holden wants to connect with other people on a more mature and adult level but at the same time he wants to reject the phoniness of the adult world. Holden’s major conflict in the novel and his hostile outlook on life stems from the tragedies he has experienced in his life along with other events. The death of Holden’s beloved brother Allie, along with the depraved nurturing of his parents results in Holden becoming physiologically damaged. As well as
Throughout the novel of the Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s abortive attempt to conserve his feeble and incompetent sense of individuality leads to his loneliness which is the primary source of a concrete manifestation of his self-division from the gross demographic of diverse groups of people. The archetypal characters in Catcher in the Rye demonstrate Holden’s struggle to preserve his own innocence and that of those around him. However, through his experiences with these archetypal characters
The symbolisms of the title and the idea of being the “catcher in the rye” are represented by the following when Phoebe asks Holden “What he would like to do with his life?” the Museum of Natural History, and The Central Park Lagoon ducks. During this book Holden is walking past a church, a family comes out and their younger son is walking by the road, singing the song “If a body catch a body comin’ thro’ the rye” by Robert Burns. Once Holden hears the song it creates a picture in his head. When
Salinger, there are many settings. Holden leaves Pencey and his hometown, to set foot into the always engaged and immense city of New York. The change of settings are a very important part of the novel since in every place, something important occurs. The different settings all link back to one common denominator, which is that Holden is afraid of growing up and losing his innocence, thus connecting back to the theme of being the catcher in the rye. When Holden goes to the Central Park pond, a more
In The Rye In J.D. Salinger's The Catcher In The Rye Holden Caulfield portrays how he is a phony by judging others for rude insensitive things, yet doing those things himself. Holden Caulfield is a very hypocritical person and does not even realize it. Throughout the whole book he shows these signs and changes only a little bit. Holden seems to be a good guy but tricks all of the readers when he shares more about himself in the novel. Holden really is a phony, but hides it very well and turns it
us a deep perspective about his novel by showing the true feelings behind the complex character who is Holden Caulfield. Salinger was born on January 1, 1919 in New York City and became a world renowned author after the creation of his first novel, The Catcher in the Rye. In 1942, Salinger was drafted into the army after the invasion of Pearl Harbor where he devised multiple chapters about Holden Caulfield’s character. Although Salinger employed many effective themes throughout the novel, we would
struggling to grow up and transition into adulthood. Holden at first glance appears to struggle with the same issues as the typical teenager. These struggles are academic, social and emotional issues that drives the teenagers mind. Holden struggles in school as every other teenager. Holden struggles with appropriate language. The typical girl issues also
novel that has gained many fans and critics since it was published in 1951. Holden Caulfield, a seventeen year old narrates a story about a couple of day in his life when he was sixteen. Initially, the text appears to be of a typical depressed teenager’s life, but analyzing the characters, scenes, and symbols through a psychoanalytic lens provides meaning and value to the story. The novel is written from the perspective of Holden which allows readers to see through his mind and to justify his actions