Catcher in the Rye Research Paper
A novel, which has gained literary recognition worldwide, scrutiny to the point of censorship and has established a following among adolescents, The Catcher in the Rye is in its entirety a unique connotation of the preservation of innocence and the pursuit of compassion. With certain elegance the writer J.D. Salinger, substantiates the growth and perils, which lie between childhood and adulthood. Embellishing the differentiation between innocence and squalor in the grasps of society. The bridge that lies between these contrasting themes are personified through the novel's protagonist, Holden Caul-field and his visualization of a cliff, which depicts a dividing point between the evident beginning and end. The connection, which binds this gap in reality, was made clear through a new found compassion, consummating Holden's place in society through the realization of his surroundings from which he successfully crosses over. Focusing on the rebellious and confused actuality of adolescents stuck between the innocence of childhood and the corruptness of the adult world, this novel strikes a cord, which most adolescents can relate. The essence of the story The Catcher in t
"First of all, it is a savior image, and shows us the extent of Holden's re-ligious idealism. Secondly, it crystallizes for us Holden's concept of good and evil; childhood is good, the only pure good, but it is surrounded by perils, the cliff of adolescence over which the children will plunge in the evil of adulthood unless stopped. But finally, the image is based on a mis-understanding. The Burns poem goes 'If a body meet a body' not 'if a body catch a body,' and the fact that Phoebe is aware of this and Holden is not, plus the manner in which these two words ('catch' and 'meet') are re-examined and re-interpreted by Holden at the end of the novel, shows us in a powerful and deeply suggestive way the center of Holden's diffi-culty." "Holden's difficulties affect his nervous system but never his vision. It is the vision of an innocent. To the lifeline of this vision he clings invinci-bly, as he does to a phonograph record he buys for Phoebe (till it breaks) and a red hunting cap that is dear to him and that he finally gives to Phoebe, and to Allie's baseball glove."
Some common words found in the essay are:
Domenic Bruni, Ramachandra Rao, Catcher Rye, Understanding Holden's, Eventually Holden, Holden Caul-field, SN Behrman, That's I'd, Holden Caulfield, JD Salinger, catcher rye, adult world, short stories, prep school, york city, 'if body, throughout novel, little kids, glass family,
Approximate Word count = 1576
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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