Words have a lot of meaning and power, which is why authors put great thought into their titles. Titles are the first introduction to the reader about the book. Written by Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, is the play of a southern belle, Blanche…
Catcher in The Rye Essay Examples and Topics
by J. D. Salinger
Essay Examples
Essay Topics
Brief overview
Reviews
The catcher in the rye, by J.D. Salinger, is one of the most taught and studied books in high school. The novel is a flashback about Holden Caulfield’s life, who is a sensitive and confused 16-year old that gets expelled from prep school and goes…
Holden Caufield, of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and Frank and April Wheeler, of Richard Yates’ Revolutionary Road, encounter the pressures of adulthood. Holden fears the inevitable progression from childhood to adulthood. Frank and April Wheeler have adulthood thrust forcibly upon them at the…
Introduction The Catcher in the Rye is a literature classic that follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old student. He is kicked out of a boarding school and told not to return after Christmas break. He decides to head back to New York City,…
As an actual reader, I think that in J.D. Salinger’s, in “The Catcher in the Rye”, Holden Caulfield character constantly encounters people and situations that strike him as “phony” a word he applies to anything hypocritical, shallow or fake. The prism of an innocent child…
The year is 1950, and sixteen-year-old Holden Wald is beginning his new school year is Pencey Preparatory School in Hagerstown, Pennsylvania. This isn’t the first school that Holden has been to, but it might be his last. Throughout all of the bland people who attend…
J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher In The Rye is a banned book in most American high schools and libraries which takes place in the late 1940’s taught readers about teen angst and alienation in which Salinger puts bad situations to a good ending. In this…
As imperfect humans, I think most of us are afraid of change even if we don’t show it. Change is without a doubt, inevitable. It’s going to happen and there’s nothing you can do about it. J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” puts us…
It’s not very often that I fall in love with a book, but this book was quite different; hooked me for almost a week, and even now that I have completed reading it, I don’t seem to get the heck out of it. It is…
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger is certainly a unique book, it is not really like any other. The plot is rather basic and to some, probably quite boring. It simply involves a rebellious boy who gets kicked out of school and then spends…
Introduction It takes several experiences, life lessons, mistakes, and decisions for an immature child to develop into a mature, well-rounded adult. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, the main character, matures throughout the novel. In the beginning, Holden is an immature teenager. By…
Often times in society adapting to the expectations of how to live allows a person to feel more wanted and loved. In J.D. Salinger’s “The catcher in the rye” that was the case for Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy that struggles to fit in this…
The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye is the personal narrative of a young man named Holden Caulfield and his recollection of the weekend after he was expelled from his school, Pencey Prep. Throughout his story the reader witnesses Holden’s journey home…
In the catcher and the rye and little miss sunshine the families are brought together by love and compassion for one another. Salinger uses symbolism to represent the past lives of Holden, olive and phoebe. Growing up isn’t easy but Holden has to leave his…
Catcher in the Rye and The Perks of Being a Wallflower are both very mature young adult works of art that leads its viewers and readers into the light of teenage life, but also into the darkness and secrets of what truly being a teenager…
Best topics on Catcher in The Rye
Anyone who had to write an essay on J.D. Salinger's famous novel knows the pains of being stuck and running out of ideas. Indeed, Catcher in the Rye essay is
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one of the most common topics among college professors for decades. While it has a relatively simple plot that has been discussed over and over, it does not mean you cannot find something new. See our essay example for inspiration, add some personal thoughts. Finally, compare the protagonist’s thoughts and ideas to what you feel and think as a person living today. Your essay on Catcher in the Rye does not have to be a carbon copy of the original book!
Date
July 16, 1951
Author
J. D. Salinger
Type
Novel
Genre
Realistic fiction
Major Characters
Holden Caulfield
Why Should This Topic Be Used?
The loss of innocence is something everyone goes through. In this book, a man’s entry into adulthood is shown in the most realistic manner.
Symbols / Motives
Social superficiality, teen anger, identity search, innocence, depression, loss, coming of age
Influence
The novel has been identified as a trigger for several shootings, including the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. Mark David Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon, was arrested with a copy of The Catcher in the Rye.
Plot
Holden Caulfield, an angry, depressed, and rebellious 17-year-old, is discharged from an institution implied to be a sanatorium. In a first-person narrative, Holden tells his experiences before the previous Christmas. After a fight with his roommate, he leaves Pencey and rents a room at a hotel. Holden’s loneliness drives him to different meet-ups, which always end miserably because of his immature and rude attitude.
When Holden Sneaks into his family’s home, he shares the fantasy about the catcher in the rye with his 10-year-old sister. The next day, he tells her that he plans to run away. Phoebe, his sister, packs her bag and wants to go with him. Holden refuses to take her, and takes her to the zoo instead. When he sees Phoebe riding the carousel, Holden finally finds happiness.
Why Is This Topic Important?
The Catcher in the Rye is one of the greatest books of all time for young readers. It makes them passionate about life, and it makes many of them fall in love with reading.
Main Ideas
The complexity of growing up and transforming oneself from innocence into adulthood.
Key Quotes
- “That’s the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, even if they’re not much to look at, or even if they’re sort of stupid, you fall in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. Girls. Jesus Christ. They can drive you crazy. They really can.”
- “The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”
- “Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them - if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.”
Interesting Facts
Given the status The Catcher in the Rye has in American literature, it’s surprising that the book has never been adapted into a movie. Many famous directors and producers have been interested in such a project, but none of them has managed to earn the author’s trust.
Arguments For
The novel’s plot may be simplistic, but it’s where its beauty comes from. Salinger’s writing style is raw, precise, conversational, and straight to the point. The book can be called a classic; it has retained its appeal for several generations of readers.
Arguments Against
The main character appears too self-obsessed.
