How Does Holden Caulfield See Himself as The Catcher in...

How does Holden Caulfield see himself as ‘The Catcher in the Rye’? Most teenagers are rebels because they do not know how to deal with the transition from childhood innocence to adult corruption. This is a recurrent behavior displayed by the protagonist in J.D. Salinger’s, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ – Holden Caulfield. The book maps the three impactful days that played a pivotal role in his life. During this time frame, Holden got thrown out of school, ran away from his school before he was scheduled to leave and went to New York. We do not know Holden’s exact location while he is narrating the story but it is clear that he is undergoing treatment in a mental hospital. Holden expresses his desire to preserve innocence in the world by†¦show more content†¦Holden told Phoebe about this one boy at Elkton Hills called James Castle who he liked. James had committed suicide because he had said something about this very conceited boy called Phil Stabile. Phil and his friends tormented James Castle. When James died, he was wearing a turtleneck sweater that he had borrowed from Holden. Holden hardly knew James. He was really surprised that James had asked for his sweater because he was a very quiet boy. All Holden knew was that his name was right ahead of his at roll call. When Phoebe asked him to name one thing that he liked a lot. When he thought about it, all he could think about was those two nuns that he met and James Castle. While Phoebe was talking to Holden, he was thinking about something else. Suddenly he told Phoebe what he’d like to be. He mentioned the line, ‘If a body catch a body coming through the rye’ from a poem by Robert Burns. Holden kept picturing little children playing in a big field of rye with nobody big around except him. And he’d catch everyone if they went over the cliff by mistake. He just wanted to do that the whole day, be ‘the catcher in the rye’. Holden sees himself as the preserver of innocence in the field of rye. He wants to save these small innocent children from falling over and losing their lives. Holden wants to live in a world where there’s no corruption. He wants to hold onto hisShow MoreRelatedHolden Caulfield and the Pressures of Society: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger1286 Words   |  6 Pages The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, characterization is often found, especially regarding the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Salinger also includes many themes in his novel relating to growing up in a corrupt society. Hence, this paper will compare, contrast, and evaluate literary criticisms regarding the themes and characterization of J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye. Many critics of The Catcher in the Rye discuss in depth the characterization of the protagonist Holden CaulfieldRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Holden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye 1733 Words   |  7 Pagesthe novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield is faced with multiple â€Å"phonies† that divert him from those he really holds affection for. Throughout the novel Holden shows disgust for certain characters but his ability to build relationships of intimacy are most eminent. Through Allie Caulfield, Holden is able to make a more personal connection. Seeing as how he is now dead, Allie is a savior in the eyes’ of Holden when he is in the time of need. Phoebe Caulfield, Holden’s tenRead MoreCatcher In The Rye Essay example1672 Words   |  7 PagesLooking In Despite the debate that may wage on regarding the status to be afforded J. D. Salingers writings, the authors books have not quietly faded into obscurity. 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You can assume that this could be one of the reasons Holden was kicked out of Pencey, aside fromRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye as a Coming-of-Age Story Essay841 Words   |  4 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye can be read as a coming-of-age story. How does Holden’s Character change or mature during the course of the novel? To what extent are there TWO Holden Caulfields in the book, and what is the difference between them? The novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D Salinger is a coming-of-age story. It follows the short tale of Holden Caulfield, a sixteen year old boy, who throughout his experiences in the novel, changes and becomes more mature and independent. The story essentiallyRead MoreComparison Of IM Crazy By J. D. Salinger746 Words   |  3 Pagesaffected his own life, but also the life of Holden Caulfield. Similarities between Salinger and Caulfield are too numerous to write off as coincidence: both went to and flunked out of prep schools, and both had a penchant for language classes. Salinger’s life greatly impacted the plot and style of his works because Salinger used himself as inspiration for Holden, as demonstrated through â€Å"I’m Crazy†, â€Å"Slight Rebellion off Madison†, and The Catcher in the Rye. During the first of three of his worksRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay: Holden - The Misfit Hero2101 Words   |  9 Pagesof The Catcher In The Rye      Ã‚     The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger was published in 1951. A recurring theme in J.D. Salingers stories concerns people who dont fit in with the traditional American Culture. Salingers misfit heroes, unlike the rest of society, are caught in the struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality (1 Wildermuth). In his attempt to create a new and realistic portrayal of the times, Salinger first, effectively creates Holden Caulfield, the mainRead MoreThe Catcher In The Rye Analysis1657 Words   |  7 Pagesdaunting face of adulthood. In J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger depicts the disheartening journey from adolescence to adulthood that Holden Caulfield endures. Although holden seeks the freedoms that mark adulthood, he has yet to take up the role of a truly mature citizen as the society conforming nature of those adults disgust him, leading him to his gradual mental decline. J. D. Salinger uses the immature character of Holden Caul field as a means of revealing the difficult transition