Holden Caulfield is definitely the controversial figure in The Catcher in the
Rye. He goes thru many improvements throughout the book as he matures from
children to an mature. In this book, he is pictured as a puzzled teenager trying
to find his place in the crazy universe, while criticizing his foes and
contradicting himself. How he shows himself over the novel
enables readers to relate to him better. His experiences great thoughts change
but still revolve around one primary center of gravity that the author, L. D.
Holden has many distinctive characteristics that set him apart from his
peers. There may be one issue that this individual cannot escape, and that is lying down. Holden
lies to everyone including two nuns that he satisfies in a customer. Another thing can be
his language. This is associated with the typical age of puberty of his time
and place and a sign of his own fears and frustrations. (Magill
Magills1803). He could be sixteen years of age and a junior in Pencey Preparation School
in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. His age group ties into his openness. Holden typically
expresses his feelings because he is at age where he does not really proper care
about others. He is not really afraid to tell people what he thinks or just how he seems
about them. Holden criticizes people for the small things that they do. He
stereotypes these people just by the things that he notices about them.
Throughout the story, Holden seems to have a goal set to get himself.
This pursuit involves the preserving of innocence. He believes that if a child
can be kept from the vicious world and things in it, they are spared.
Another thing with this journey is the fact he is looking for an ideal, nevertheless un-human
like that will fulfill all demands. This means that he will have loving
everyone that is unconditional and will get love coming from everyone
otherwise. Finally, the most important task, is the search for a great identity. He can
constantly looking for his authentic self among all the evils of the world. Afterwards
on, Holden realizes they can achieve non-e of this (Unger 555).
The family is genuinely not stressed much in the context on this book.
Holden does not ever before look to his family to get help with his struggles or perhaps for
direction along the way. Though he really does mention his two brothers D. N.
and Allie, the only affiliate he connects with is definitely his youthful sister, Phoebe.
They will seem to talk about a common relationship that backlinks them to one another. His
parents never really provide him the shelter that he is looking for. He is
regularly searching for something or someone to turn to if he needs support
but thinks non-e of his members of the family (Magill, Critical2935). Holdens
mother and father are considered rich and provide him with high-priced, top of the
series luggage. Their particular only downside mentioned is that they are too active and do not
There may be much irony scattered throughout Holdens history. One
example is how, from the beginning of the book, he speaks of key points
that he detests, like when people do it again things regularly over and over. He
does not understand that right after he admits that this, he contradicts him self and does
the points he says he hates. Also, it is ironic how Holden despises his
roommate, Stradlater. He’s always complaining about what a artificial that this individual
is and exactly how he is a secret slob. Yet, at some points, Holden comments that he
may not mind getting like him. His rudeness toward other folks and his aggravation
over his own blunders just combine together (Lieder 2).
Symbolism is another idea that runs throughout the book. Holden
contains a dream the particular one day he can be the greatest protector coming from all children. This individual
wants to preserve these kids from being exposed to the wicked world we all live in.
His dream is counterbalanced by a feeling of falling that he always gets.
These two issues seem to meet up with in his thought of a perfect community and everything
always stays the same (Unger 557). Time is also used as a sort of
symbolism. The setting with the novel is in the cold, and in the middle of
winter season. Time to commemorate Christmas, in the end of one year and awaiting of
another in a time of termination. Holdens story is one of death to his
adolescent self and a vitality to a fresh refreshed and mature Holden (Unger 556). This book can also be seen as a developing process. In the beginning, he
can be immature then as he techniques adulthood, he starts to acquire nervous and
worried of what lies ahead (Magill, Critical2935). The earth is also employed
in revealing symbolism. It is usually used to signify the madness and
rudeness that ruins people. Holden refers to that when he is definitely talking of the
imminent land from innocence (Magill, Magills1803-1804).
Holden encounters many improvements as the maturing method goes on.
He understands that he can not be the catcher in the rye. The children are getting
to be altered and impacted by the globe in some way, regardless of how hard
this individual tries to stop it. He could be also reborn to a understanding of the world about
him. This kind of refocuses the way he believes. He, him self is converted. He
realizes his very own phoniness and deception toward others. This is a major step.
The most important thing that happens is that he gets a love for anything. Through
this he locates his the case identity and learns the idea of compassion. Through
these adjustments he becomes peaceful. A survivor who also finally achieves peace
of mind. (Hipple 106). Holden also understands that although he misses
everyone, this individual only genuinely respected most children as well as the two nuns.
Holden Caulfield was puzzled, he criticized a lot of people, yet he
as well made many people think better of themselves through lying down. In this
book, The Catcher in the Rye, he permeates his very own phoniness, within a sort of
retrospection, and knows his errors. This symbolizes a mature reassurance that
lies with the novels center of the law of gravity. (Unger 555). After going to these
findings, it puts an end for all the problems that Holden went through to get
Bibliography:
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