The Catcher in the Rye literary analysis
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a story about childhood, and of finding one's self in society. It is the story of Holden Caulfield and his everyday encounters and problems with other people in society. The story depicts a week in the life of Holden, a week full of events and encounters that permanently change his life forever. In the Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger uses the character of Holden Caulfield, conflict, and setting to convey the theme that although the world may seem to be full of phonies or difficult and boring people, one must find a way to overlook his individuality and coexist in society. The first literary technique J.D. Salinger utilizes is the character of Holden Caulfield. Although Holden can be analyzed from many different vantage points the most prevalent characteristic of Holden is his lack of maturity and his journey into adulthood. Holden is a very insecure teenager desperately trying to connect with someone. Because he is immature he has problems understanding the adult world and has difficulty relating to his peers. He feels very much alone and doesn't know how to create a connection because he is very idealistic and has no tolerance for people. He labels anyone whom he considers n
ot to be completely genuine as a phony, claiming that they do and say things for the sole purpose of being socially accepted and polite. However, Holden demonstrates his immaturity by partaking in many of the actions that he considers to be phony. He admits that sometimes it is necessary to take part in these actions and ultimately become a phony in order to exist in the adult world, which is why he is so strongly opposed to it. The second setting of the story takes place in downtown Manhattan. There is when Holden finally gets his chance to truly experience life. He encounters events and people that he would never see in his hometown. For example, when Holden spends a night in a hotel he encounters a prostitute and her pimp and he notices the sleaziness of the other people attending the hotel. After meeting the prostitute, Holden first alarms the reader that he often thinks of suicide. He is quoted as saying that he would have thrown himself from his hotel room, but he did not want people to see him "all gory and stuff (Salinger 101). Holden also experiences the nightlife of New York while he was in Manhattan. He attended bars, got drunk several times, and met various people that he would never see in his hometown. Overall, Holden really learns a great deal about different people and different ways of living while he stayed in Manhattan The second literary technique that is prevalent throughout the novel is conflict. The most notable conflict that exists in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield vs. society. In The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfield views the world as an evil and corrupt place where there is no peace. Holden firmly believes in these convictions but he gradually comes to the realization that he is powerless to change them. Holden has so much going for him. He lives a comfortable suburban life and is privileged to have an educational background in several different private schools. Yet Holden constantlysees corruption wherever he goes. He looks out on a world which appears completely immoral and unscrupulous. At one point in the story Holden spends three days in the vicinity of Manhattan. The city is decked with decorations and holiday splendor, yet much to Holden'
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Approximate Word count = 1495
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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