Holden's future and career do not look promising at the beginning of the novel. Holden is being kicked out of Pencey Prep because he is failing four out of his five classes; this is not the first prep school that he has been kicked out of, either. The thought of responsibility scares Holden and he avoids hard work. He equates his brother's job to prostitution because he has no regard whatsoever for work or responsibilities. The fact that his brother D.B is a successful Hollywood script writer ...
Essays on Catcher in The Rye
by J. D. Salinger
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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 moment of parenthood. These novels portray the desire to hold onto innocence, and how our childhood impacts our adult life.Catcher in the Rye embarks the reader on an adventure, written through the ...
Introduction
Cynicism
Traumatic Experience
Suicidal Thoughts
Alcohol Abuse
Bad Decisions
Conclusion
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, where he is from, but he doesn't go home. He decides it's best if he stays away from ...
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 DuBois, who, after encountering a series of personal losses, leaves her aristocratic background seeking refuge with her sister and brother-in-law in a dilapidated New Orleans tenement. On the other hand Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D ...
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 on to struggle to find himself, his future, and happiness. Holden Caulfield, the most well-known anti-hero, is terrified of loss and change because of the death of his brother Allie.Holden lost his brother Allie from Leukemia and it has changed Holden ...
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 world full of “phonies”. Throughout the book, many events have occurred to show Holden trying to fit in and explains how it makes you into the person you are.
Holden doesn’t get a lot of attention therefore, making it hard for him to be a social ...
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 in the person of view of Holden, the main character. Within Holden’s two-day journey, it becomes known very quick that Holden isn’t the typical perfect protagonist. Instead he is a troubled protagonist, that really doesn’t have any answers for life. Holden has ...
Holden is seeking company in the Lavender Room but is unable to find what he seeks as he constantly finds fault with other people’s characters. Holden feels lonely and decides to visit a local nightclub after leaving his school. At the nightclub, he tries to reach out and talk to others, desiring company. Although he tries his best to converse with a group of girls but constantly finds himself annoyed by them. Holden searches for people to talk to, as illustrated through his thoughts about the ...
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 and the inner conflict between facing his parents after his expulsion or never going back at all. The story begins with Holden preparing himself to leave saying goodbye to the campus and his favorite teachers,reminiscing on the good memories he created there. ...
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 all because of this BASTARD!
Holden Caulfield, a sixteen year old teenager, who seems to be annoying, smart, rebellious, humorous all at the same time. I, in any way, do not intend to throw away some spoilers, because I am not in that mood to do so. I just want you to know that the ...
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 this school, Holden stands out, and it’s not due to his red hunting hat that he often likes to wear backward, especially since it reminds him of a duck, but rather his odd personality. Although it’s only been a few months attending ...
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 the next few days in New York by himself.Often the first thing I do when I pick up a book is to try and grasp at least a mild understanding of what the book may be on about, using only the title. This usually gets my mind whirring but often ends in ...
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 confronting the adult world, and finding out about adults being so superficial that they can’t even recognize it is a main topic and the thin red line throughout this work. Holden’s protagonist represents this skepticism most ...
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is based entirely on the protagonist's point of view, Holden Caulfied. This helps the reader to analyze the character’s thoughts and actions based on their own personal morals. The Catcher in the Rye is the story of Holden Caulfield expulsion from Pencey Prep and his journey back home to New York City, where he's trying to find someone to listen to him and meaningfully respond to his fears about becoming an adult. Throughout the novel, Holden has a ...
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 kid memories behind and become an adult. Holden has to overcome and grow up from his young days in his life.The ducks in the catcher and the rye are a big symbol that Salinger used to represent Holden’s life. Holden’s wonderingness about ...
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.
