Cather in the Ryes vs. Generation X

A detailed Summary of Cather in the Ryes vs. Generation X

Catcher in the Rye and Generation X: Holden and Andy In the novel,Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, has very definite views on sexuality, aggression, and death. He is ambivalent towards sex, loathsome of aggression, and fearsome of death. It's this triangle of sin that demonstrates the conflict occurring within Holden's inner monologue. In the novel,Generation X, the main character, Andy, is grappling with many of the same problems that Holden faced forty years earlier. Even though the more modern society is different than forty years ago, the same general issues still haunt Andy today, with many parallels to Holden's coming-of-age issues. With such a dead-end vision of the trap of adulthood and marriage, it isn't very surprising that Holden is scared of being initiated into the most involving form of relationship--sex. In a society where human relationships are affected by marketplace values, like status and appearance, which commodify people, rather than accepting them. Holden is seeking a deeper, more real relationship with someone, probably anyone, who understands him, and will accept him. Holden doesn't like to see people hurting. He explains when he says that he would like to be "a catcher in the rye", someon

neuroses that Holden suffered from. Fittingly, "Cosmopolitan" Magazine called Generation X, "A modern-day Catcher in the Rye." The book opens with a cartoon whose caption reads; "Don't worry, mother...if the marriage doesn't work out, we can always get divorced." This quotation typifies the social change that had taken place between the time of Catcher in the Rye, and the time of GenerationX. The change that has taken place in society is that qualities like "virgin and chastity" used to be considered virtues, but today are abhorred, and are seen as qualities of the prudish, and/or the unattractive. Andy, the main character has a lot in common with Holden Caufield. Much like Holden, Andy becomes tired of the sexual world in which he lived. In a quote sounding a lot like Holden, Andy said, " I became nonsexual. I started to find humanity repulsive, reducing it to flanks, mounds, and secretions..." Andy also goes through a similar sexual identity crisis when he laments that, "I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body." An ironic sexuality, much like that of Holden's. Andy also abuses the sexual vocabulary to a large extent, when he uses sexual terms, to describe non-sexual objects. "Watching TV, is a lot like masturbation," which he advocates in the book. He describes a car as, "a syphilitic old Saab." Holden also associates objects with sexuality, like when he uses the word "crumby" to describe a sexual fantasy, and later uses the same word to describe a stomach ache. Clare, one of Generation X's female character, has many of the same of qualities as Jane. Both Holden and Andy have dated their respective female characters, but neither had a sexual relationship with them, and both become jealous when they hear of someone

Stradlater, and his friend Jane having sex, he tries to think of her as innocent and naive, when he says "when we played checkers, she always kept her kings in the back row." Since he cares about Jane, he can't understand why she would want to involve herself with a guy like Stradlater in the first place. Thoughts about sex, seem to lead Holden into thoughts about death. After the fight with Stradlater over Jane, Ackley, the novel's most hated character, asks why they fought and Holden tells the readers that "I didn't answer him...I almost wis

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Approximate Word count = 1530
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts