Catcher in the Rye Theme Essay - 1212 Words

Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger, is a novel in which the author creates much irony in the way he presents the loss of innocence or the fall from innocence in his main character, Holden Caulfield. While Holden clearly believes in protecting the innocence of children in society, he himself cannot seem to hang onto his own innocence. Throughout the novel Holden shows his love and protection for childhood innocence, the irony that he in fact himself may be losing his own childhood innocence mainly due to the responsibilities which he has taken on, and also shows that he may be more innocent than the reader first thinks as his simplified view of a complex world is much like an innocent child would see. In this novel†¦show more content†¦In the book Holden seemed to be angry with life and almost everyone in his, and although we dont know for sure I believe he wasnt as pessimistic before his brother died. Holden did not understand why innocent people like Allie had to d ie and let conceited people like Stradlater live. No one was there to catch Allie and he feels that no one is there to catch him either.Show MoreRelatedEssay on The Theme of Innocence in The Catcher In the Rye996 Words   |  4 Pagesstory. In The Catcher In the Rye, Holden says that his dream job would to be the catcher in rye. This is significant to the story because of how Holden feels that adults are trying to ruin the innocence of children, and how he can be the one that saves them. Holden then realizes he cannot always be the one to save the children. This is show throughout the book but especially in the scene where Holden takes Phoebe to the carousel.This shows that Holden wants to be the catcher in the rye so that he canRead MoreEssay on The Theme of Hypocrisy in The Catcher In The Rye488 Words   |  2 Pages The Theme of Hypocrisy in The Catcher In The Rye nbsp; nbsp; In the novel The Catcher In The Rye, the protagonist Holden Caulfield views his surroundings with hypocrisy and contempt in an attempt to avoid the corruption of adulthood. Holden places himself above the crowd because he believes everyone acts phony. In the process, Caulfield reveals his true problem: his refusal to change. nbsp; Holden fears adulthood because it brings responsibilities and trouble. He believes allRead More The Phony Theme of The Catcher In The Rye Essay example1353 Words   |  6 PagesThe Phony Theme of The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In life there comes a time when everyone thinks that they are surrounded by phoniness. This often happens during the teen years when the person is trying to find a sense of direction. Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old teen-ager is trying to find his sense of direction in J.D. Salingers, The Catcher In The Rye. Holden has recently been expelled from Pency Prep for failing four out of his five classes. He decides to startRead MoreThe Theme of Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Essay568 Words   |  3 PagesThe Theme of Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulifield views the world as an evil corrupt place where there is no peace. Holden has a phony phobia that restricts him from becoming a fully matured adult. In Holdens attempted journey in becoming a fully matured adult, he encounters many scenarios involving friendship, personal opinions, and his love of children. His journey is an unpleasant and difficult one with manyRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay: Themes of Society and Growing Up1366 Words   |  6 PagesThemes of Society and Growing Up in The Catcher in the Rye      Ã‚   In reading J.D. Salingers novel, The Catcher in the Rye, one is compelled to have a very strong reaction to the contents of the book.   Whether that reaction is negative or positive, it is unquestionable that the reader will give the novel a second thought after reading it.   There could be many reasons why this novel has such an impact on the readers.   It may be the use of Salingers catchy slang phrases, bitingly sarcastic andRead MoreComparison and Contrast of a Separate Peace and Catcher in the Rye1515 Words   |  7 PagesComparison and Contrast Essay A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye The coming of age novels, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, and A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, both interpret the lives of adolescent boys journeying through their conflicts and inner confusion to reach the level of maturity. Salinger and Knowles both discern the literal ways a typical teenager grows up with the help of literary elements such as plot, setting, character development, conflictsRead MorePreservation of Innocence In The Catcher in the Rye Essay545 Words   |  3 PagesThemes in literary works are central, recurring ideas or messages that allow us to understand more deeply about the characters. It is a perception about life or human nature that is often shared with the reader. In The Catcher in the Rye, there are several themes that can be found in the words and actions of the narrator, Holden Caulfield. The dominating theme in this novel is the preservation of innocence, especially of children. We can see this throughout the novel, as Holde n strives to preserveRead MoreDaisy Caulfield : Minor Character1424 Words   |  6 PagesA minor character in The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, is Phoebe Caulfield, the main character, Holden’s younger sister. Holden describes his sister as not only the smartest kid in the world, but also a great dancer, and a very sympathetic listener. She’s also known as the funniest little sister ever. She is first introduced to readers when Holden says: â€Å"You d like her. I mean if you tell old Phoebe something, she knows exactly what the hell you re talking about. I mean you canRead MoreHolden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye824 Words   |  4 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye Symbolism Essay J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, is the story of Holden Caulfield’s loss of faith in society, and in particular adults. Salinger uses a number of symbols to demonstrate Holden’s rebellion against the phony facade of society and his desire to preserve the innocence of children, especially those he loves. Chief among them is Holden’s misinterpretation of Robert Burns’ poem â€Å"Comin thro’ the Rye†, wherein Holden mistakes the original line, â€Å"If a body meet aRead MoreF. Salinger s The Catcher Of The Rye1121 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the best known novels in English-speaking countries, J.D Salinger’s Catcher In The Rye deals with Holden Caulfield’s past trauma which is the triggering factor in his depression, anxiety and alienation. Holden tells an unnamed person what has happened in the three days prior to his mental breakdown. Through Holden’s relatable characteristics and Salinger’s narrative tr eatment, the book continues to engage audiences across generations. The way that Salinger writes gives the audience a very