Abstract Up through the 1970s, teenage resistance to social authority was such a pervasive motif in American fiction that the adolescent struggle for autonomy embodied for many critics the national myth of self-reliance. The paper shows that in contemporary novels, however, youth's disaffected disposition is credited not to the oppressiveness of adult authority but to a lack of it. The voice in both "Catcher in the Rye" and "Less than Zero" is a detached, ironic voice that demonstrates a need for security and for home. The paper shows that by implicitly endorsing an idealized, nostalgic vision of family, these narratives split with the genre's antiauthoritarian tradition and re-script the utilization of adolescent disaffection. Whereas the teenager once intuitively asserted youth's moral supremacy over their elders, today's aimless, amoral kids cry out for adult intervention as they beg entry into the shelters of home. This paper examines the similarities and differences in the discourse of the young in both "Less Than Zero" and "The Catcher in the Rye".
From the Paper "In the penultimate chapter of Catcher, Holden declines to run away to California in order to spare his younger sister Phoebe from the cynicism and despair he suffers. He does so because he understands that if he lets Phoebe follow him westward he will fail in his dream of protecting her innocence; instead of preventing her terrible fall into adulthood, he will be just as guilty of pushing her over the edge of childhood as the anonymous "pervert" who scrawls profanity on her elementary school walls. Therefore, to save her, Holden must sacrifice his passionate disdain for adult phonies and submit to the indignity of their "asking me if I'm going to apply myself" (213). Through this concluding gesture, Salinger insists that adolescent rebellion is guided by moral intent and is not symptomatic of the narcissism and selfishness so closely associated with this stage of life. The intuitive morality that this plot ascribes to its teen protagonists implies that "if the young demonstrate their inability to accept the code of civilized society, the fault cannot lie in them but in those who have failed to provide acceptable values. By extension, youth's rituals of disaffection are not expressions of antisocial behavior but confirmations that they are engaged in an arduous quest, searching, seeking, grasping, testing in an effort to find the proper moral course in life (265, 269)."
Abstract This essay outlines the classic Novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. It gives a detailed review of the text and many other elements of the writing. The paper also includes the author's opinion of the novel and reasons for his opinion.
From the Paper " The Catcher in the Rye, a classic novel written by the infamous J.D. Salinger is a story within the life of Holden Caulfield, a pessimistic 16 year old attending private school. The novel is a window in to a rebellious teenaged mind using Holden Caulfield as an extreme example. Holden is a teenager growing up in 1950s New York who has been expelled from school for poor achievement. Holden's frustration towards society and unstable state of mind is brought upon by constant failure in his academic and social life. In an attempt to deal with his frustration he leaves school a few days prior to the end of term, and goes to New York to 'take a vacation' before returning to his parents whom will be greatly disappointed."
Abstract This paper presents a comparison to Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony" and J.D. Salinger?s, ?Catcher in the Rye?. The writer of this paper takes the reader on an exploratory journey of both stories and details the theme of alienation of the two protagonists. Using quotes and summary opinion the writer argues that the alienation the protagonists experiences in the story is the very element that allows them the self-reflection that occurs.
From the Paper "Throughout history, authors of literary works have used their stories to uncover some aspect of their protagonists. It is a method that has withstood the test of time and continues to be popular today. The authors of two well-received books used this technique to illustrate alienation of a human being and the contribution the alienation made to the self-discovery of the protagonists. In Leslie Marmon Silko?s; "Ceremony" and J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye", we are directed on a journey that illustrates the alienation of each protagonist but as the stories draw to a close we are left with the understanding that the alienation allowed them to watch the world from the outside and reflect on their own inner souls."
Abstract This paper discusses the isolation that is experienced by the protagonist, Holden, in "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. This theme is expanded and is presented from a general point of view, illustrating the difficulties teenagers encompass on their journey to adulthood.
From the Paper "In today's world teenagers are said to have a harder time than those of yesteryear. Many experts disagree with this statement and point to J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" to illustrate that teens have historically had a hard time finding their way before bursting onto adulthood ready to live(Elkind pg 24). When teens become lost and isolated, both in fictional works, such as "Catcher in the Rye" and in real life it is often because they have not had limits or boundaries according to the experts. ?Without such limits, values, and leadership, young people drifted into states that bordered on mental illness."
Abstract This paper discusses how "Catcher in the Rye" is a moving book filled with symbolism to convey Holden's manic depression fueled by the death of his brother Allie. It explores how Salinger uses characters to symbolize Holden's confused feelings about purity, love and sexuality. And, he takes advantage of many symbols to demonstrate how just what a lost soul Holden has become with no chance to turn back the hands of time and return to his happy childhood when his brother was still alive.
From the Paper "Allie, Holden's young brother who died from leukemia, represents the purity that Holden looks for in a world of phonies. Holden says that he admires Allie more than he admires Jesus, and even goes as far as praying to Allie, rather than to Jesus. Allie also takes on the religious qualities of a savior near the end of the book when Holden has become ill and is having difficulty walking down Fifth Avenue. Holden said "Every time I"d get to the end of a block I"d make believe I was talking to my brother Allie. I"d say to him, Allie, don?t let me disappear.? "
Abstract This paper examines J. D. Salinger's 1951 novel, "The Catcher in the Rye". The author discusses Salinger's use of symbolism and image patterns in the book and explains how these devices were used to develop his themes of youthful alienation. He notes that symbolism was used effectively to characterize the fictional people in the novel by Salinger's selection of names and that image patterns were also used to emphasize themes and instill more profound meaning in them. The author concludes that through symbolism and imagery, Salinger was able to touch his reader's emotions with much more power and effectiveness.
Abstract This paper comments on the significance of a specific passage in J.D. Salinger's novel, "The Catcher in the Rye". The passage begins, "Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it's a game...". The paper points out the relation of this sentiment to Holden's disillusionment with society and his enchantment with naivete and authenticity.
A comparative analysis of the common theme of teenage problems in William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and J. D Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye".
1,400 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 53.95
Abstract This paper will discuss the similarities of "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare and "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger and connect them into a common theme that they share with each other. By analyzing some of their similarities, we can see how they both carry the notion of teenage tragedy and seek to show the depth of young people within a literary format. By revealing the concepts of universal teenage struggles, these two works of literature are very similar I that they show the hardships of being to young to really have a say I their destinies. The sense of powerlessness over the way they want to live their lives connects them intuitively by their sense of loss within the works.
Abstract This paper examines how, in J.D. Salinger's classic novel, ?The Catcher in the Rye?, the narrator is a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield, who comes from a rich family and moves from one boarding school to another as he is either expelled for failing classes or gets tired of the school. It looks at how, at first glance, it seems as though Holden is a normal teenage boy. However, as the reader gets deeper into the story, he displays certain self-destructive and pathological qualities that separate him from the norm. It presents a critical essay of the novel, while attempting to determine what separates Holden from the typical teenager.
From the Paper "During Holden's trip, he comes across many people of many ages, but his skepticism about the sincerity of people and his fear of phonies makes it hard for him to establish genuine contacts with anyone. According to miller (1965, p. 9): "The journey becomes a combination of nightmare and burlesque where horror and comedy mix in inexplicable fashion." Salinger uses a mixture of Holden's cynicism and the use of features typical of teenage vernacular spoken in New York in the 1950s, and strong personal idiosyncrasies (Costello 1990, p. 45) to make the reader question whether there is something wrong with Holden or if he is just behaving like a normal teen."
Abstract This paper examines the book, "The Catcher in the Rye", by J. D. Salinger. Specifically, it presents an analytical discourse using narrative intentions as the critical instrument. It looks at how narrative intentions fill the novel with pathos and a sense of pervading doom hovering around Holden Caulfield throughout the book. It discusses how Holden must find himself, reach an apocalypse, and then discover who he is, as he moves through the pages of this novel.
From the Paper "As Holden begins to become more aware of himself and his place in the world, he becomes increasingly aware of his sexuality and his frustrations. What is even more frustrating is that he cannot act on them, even when he gives himself excellent opportunities. As his world comes crashing down around him, he learns that he is more of a boy than a man, yet attempting to make himself heard in a man's world, which he ultimately finds "phony." Holden is a tragic figure because his life is just as "phony" as what he sees around him. He cannot have sex with a prostitute, and he is continually rebuffed by the women he tries to befriend in the story. He is a boy, looking for himself in a world where he is not ready to fit in, and his quest leads him finally to his sister, who is truly happy, while Holden is truly not."
Abstract This paper explains that, in Salinger's ?The Catcher in the Rye?, the narrator, a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield who comes from a rich family, seems to be a normal teenage boy; however, as the reader gets deeper into the story, he displays certain self-destructive and pathological qualities that separate him from the norm. The author points out that the beginning of the story is very interesting, as Holden points out that he does not want this story to be his life story; he simply wants the reader to understand how he ended up where he did: in psychiatric care. The paper concludes that Holden is said to suffer from psychological problems because of his self-destructive behavior and his nonconformist attitudes. The "cure", as implied in the novel, would be for Holden to stop resisting material gain and his adoration for nonjudgmental, genuine, human interaction.
From the Paper "Holden goes back to his dormitory and encounters Robert Ackley, a rude outcast with an acne-ridden face and a poor attitude, and Holden's roommate, an arrogant man-about-campus who Holden despises. As Stradlater gets ready for a date with Jane Gallagher, an old friend of Holden?s, he asks Holden to write an essay for him, as Holden is a talented writer. Holden leaves with Ackley and another student to see a movie in New York City, but writes the paper when he returns. At this point, we catch a glimpse of the root of Holden's troubles. He writes the essay about his late brother Allie's favorite baseball glove. He pours his heart out in the story, describing how Allie died of leukemia and how he broke all of the windows in his garage in a rage the night that Allie died."
Abstract This paper examines the novel by J.D. Salinger, "The Catcher in the Rye", which portrays a disaffected youth named Holden Caulfield, who has recently been expelled from his preparatory school and who, basically, instead of returning home, runs away. It looks at how, like many runaways, Holden often behaves in very childlike ways that show he is ill-equipped for a mature and adult existence.
From the Paper "In some ways, however, Caulfield is not so different from many young runaways today of very different socioeconomic status. Although he is from a wealthy family, he feels a strong sense of moral and social alienation from his parents as well as the peer groups of his generation that he is exposed to. He frequently dissociates from his outer lying problems, such as the fact that he is flunking out of school, rather than attempts to actively engage with them. Holden prefers to live in a world of his own internal creation, rather than the "real world" in a strategy that is anything but psychologically and socially healthy. Although heterosexual many young runaways are gay, lesbian, or transgender Holden's assurance in his sexuality seems confused."
Abstract This paper explains that the character, Holden Caulfield, comes to maturity over the course of Salinger's novel, ?Catcher in the Rye?, with witty humor and cynicism, moving from being depressed to finally being happy. The author points out the theme of idealism: Holden thinks everyone wants their kid to be the poster child of the "perfect kid" when, in fact, there is no such thing. The paper relates that Phoebe's reality check helped Holden realize that, no matter how hard you try and how much you care, you cannot change society; there will always be corruption.
From the Paper "In the beginning of the novel, Holden is very sarcastic toward everything. He is also cynical and has a hopeless outlook on life. Holden is being kicked out of Pencey Prep for failing all of his classes. Holden goes to his History teacher who begins lecturing Holden on his lousy term paper. Holden, however, sees only the comical part, ?he was holding my paper like it was a turd or something,? (11), because he can"t take things seriously. Holden believes that everyone is phony or fake. On the train ride to New York, Holden meets one of his classmate's mothers. He lies to her and says how nice her son is. Holden can believe this woman doesn"t know her son well enough to know he is lying, ?that guy Morrow was about as sensitive as a goddam toilet seat,? (55). Holden thing it's ridiculous that parents don?t pay enough attention to their kid's personality to know when someone is lying about their kid."
Abstract This paper examines how J. D. Salinger's novel, "The Catcher in the Rye", demonstrates the difficulty of growing up. It looks at how Holden's character evolves throughout the novel and how, by the end he realizes that innocence is a nice thing that does not last forever and regardless of how one tries to avoid the reality of the world, one must eventually face it. It also discusses how Salinger is successful about presenting the life and thoughts of a troubled teenager crossing from youth into adulthood.
From the Paper "Holden is a cynic, and a very young one at that. He does not have much faith in the world and thinks that the grown-up world (i.e., the real world) is phony. Like many young adults, he believes he has the world figured out and wants no part of it. Holden has a difficult time with certain truths about life, as demonstrated through his emotional breakdown mentioned at the beginning and the end of the novel. "
