In JD Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a depressed teenager who hates nearly everything in the world. There are two main loves in Holden’s life shown throughout the book, the “perfect” Jane Gallagher and his hated Sally Hayes. However, throughout the book, the reality of Jane is never proven. In all, the character that changes Holden the most in JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is Jane, as she is not even real and made up by Holden in his head, the vision of perfection
Pain doesn’t show up in a person’s life for no reason, it’s a sign that something has to be changed. The Catcher in the Rye shows this through the eyes of Holden, who suffers through the pain of depression every day. In his case Holden had to change his expectations for the world to overcome his pain to feel “so damn happy” (213). Holden idealizes innocence, specifically the innocence of childhood. He frequently finds himself standing up to someone to protect this childhood innocence or feeling sick
with insanity. Perhaps it is inexperience which makes them only able to see events in a naive light. Edgar Allen Poe’s character Montresor in The Cask of Amontillado is a prime example of an unreliable narrator, as is J. D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. However, it can be difficult to distinguish between what is a reliable narrator, and what is not. An unreliable narrator is one who cannot be trusted to tell the story
Albert Einstein once said, “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe” ("Quote Investigator"). Life is an endless journey with new experiences everyday. However, whether these experiences create progress is made is debatable. In the past few centuries, we have made numerous advances in science, such as the discovery of dark matters and the invention of rockets. Unfortunately, we are still at the same place for copious social issues. Gender inequality
The Catcher in the Rye In J. D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, teenager Holden Caulfield goes on a quest, unknowingly, for self-knowledge. Holden narrates his journey from the future where he does not specify where he is, but it is shared he is seeing a psychologist and receives visitor, therefore is most likely in some sort of treatment center. From the start of the novel, Holden is a poor student with no will or determination to change his ways. He has been kicked out of three-going-on-four
“Americanism” in different eras. It began with the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” given by the nation’s constitution. It has changed into a worldview that is partially portrayed by the character of Holden Caulfield in J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. During this time, an American was one who strived for success even after hardships. Through Holden’s journey after leaving Pencey, he tells of his opinion of the world and society in general and in very specific. These opinions
The Search for Oneself and Tides of Change In J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the author uses recurring symbols 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
protagonist from J. D Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, is just like those people and is stuck between these two stages of life. He sees children as innocent, but adults as corrupt, begins to explore sexuality but does not go through with it, and rejects change by seeking refuge in childhood places and around children. Throughout the story, Holden mentions a lot about phoniness and corruption of the adult world. In the first chapter, he expresses his disappointment in