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…
The Catcher in The Rye Essays
by J. D. Salinger
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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…
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…
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…
Introduction Coming-of-age literature addresses the transition phases that a main character undergoes from youth to adulthood. Both Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye novels spell out the basic transitions that the protagonists undergo that build an equitable understanding of the world around…
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,…
Introduction Holden Caulfield is a youthful adolescent boy who appears to be detached from others around him as apparent in the novel. Holden is enduring from an introverted identity clutter called antisocial personality disorder which causes him to control, misuse, and abuse the right of…
Introduction The brain of a young person is an intricate organ that has different areas, each explicitly intended to manage a variety of various issues which that individual happens to experience. In spite of the fact that this is an exceptionally ground-breaking organ that is…
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…
Introduction Adolescence is defined as, “1: the period of life when a child develops into an adult : the period from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority. 2: the state or process of growing up. 3: a stage of development (as…
While the Catcher in the Rye does indeed exemplify some common teenage anxieties, the novel takes it to a certain level that cannot be related to by all teenagers. Holden Caulfield illustrates an impressive amount of independence for the average teenager. He lives at a…
Holden Caufield’s unique use of language established the prominent theme of teenage angst, as well as his overall character, throughout the course of the novel. As many teenagers do, Holden often wove unnecessary curing into his speech as a way of expressing his frustration that…
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…
It will forever be mankind’s instinct to impose moral codes upon ourselves and those around us. These moral codes are based on subjective ideas deemed important by their creators; they have served as the basis for most organized institutions, including but not limited to the…
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.
