The Catcher in the Rye: Analysis of Hoden Caulfeild Innocence, Compassion, and some ?Crazy? Cliff. A novel, which has gained literary recognition worldwide, scrutiny to the point of censorship and has established a following among adolescents, The Catcher in the Rye is in its entirety a unique connotation of the preservation of innocence and the pursuit of compassion. With certain elegance the writer J.D. Salinger, substantiates the growth and perils, which lie between childhood and adulthood. Embellishing the differentiation between innocence and squalor in the grasps of society. The bridge that lies between these contrasting themes are personified through the novel?s protagonist, Holden Caulfield and his visualization of a cliff, which depicts a dividing point between the evident and end. The connection, which binds this gap in reality, was made clear through a new found compassion, consummating . Focusing on the rebellious and confused actuality of adolescents stuck between the innocence of childhood and the corruptness of the adult world, this novel strikes a cord, which most adolescents can relate. Holden Caulfield, the main character has been revealed in the first person view in a unique narrative of a teenage boy who forms a The essence of the story The Catcher in the Rye follows the forty-eight hour escapade of sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, told through first person narration.
After his expulsion from Pency, a fashionable prep school, the lat-est in a long line of expulsions, Holden has a few confrontations with his fellow students and leaves shortly after to return to his hometown, New York City. In the heart of New York City, Holden spends the following two days hiding out to rest before confronting his parents with the news. During his adventures in the city he tries to renew some old acquaintances, find his significance in the adult world, and come to grips with the head-aches he has been having lately. Eventually, Holden sneaks home to visit his sister Phoebe, because alone on the streets he feels as if he has no where else to turn. Children are the only people with whom Holden can communicate with throughout the novel, not because they can help him with his growing pains but because they remind him of a simpler time, his innocence, which he wishes he could return. The trials of the adult world wear down Holden?s vision of a place in society, portraying innocence as a form of retreat from a confusing world.
The Essay on Innocence in Catcher in the Rye
If there were one word to tell what the theme of the book was it would be innocence. How we are all innocent at some point, how to try to keep our innocence, and how no one can keep their innocence forever. We all fall from our innocence. Adam and Eve fell from grace and innocence and set the tone for all of our lives. Throughout the whole book Holden is trying to make people keep their innocence ...
Understanding Holden?s notion of innocence and the role it play throughout the novel helps to put in tune the underlying message found in Holden?s description of the catcher in the rye. ?I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody?s around–nobody big, I mean- except me. And I?m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff–I mean if they?re running and they don?t look where they?re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That?s all I?d do all day. I?d just be the catcher in the rye and all? (173).
The principle of the catcher in the rye is a means for Holden to devote his life to the protection of innocence. Secondly, it crystallizes for us Holden?s concept of good and evil; childhood is good, the only pure good, but it is surrounded by perils, the cliff of adolescence over which the children will plunge in the evil of adulthood unles stopped. But finally, the image is based on a mis-understanding. The Burns poem goes ?If a body meet a body? not ?if a body catch a body,? and the fact that Phoebe is aware of this and Holden is not, plus the manner in which these two words (?catch? and ?meet?) arere-examined and re-interpreted by Holden at the end of the novel, shows us in a powerful and deeply suggestive way the center of Holden?s diffi-culty.? Holden?s view of life as it is and the way life should be is based on a misunder-standing of man?s place in society. Having difficulty coming to grips with this misunder-standing, Holden crosses a threshold. Later he fatefully comes in contact with his sister once again, at the Central Park carrousel in the final scene of the novel. At the sight of his sister he is overcome by a love for all people when he sees how much his sister cares about him.
The Essay on Catcher And The Rye Innocence
There is a time in a person s existence when they loose their innocence. No longer are they sheltered from the harsh outside world, they are a part of it. They are now corrupt. A process that engulfs all and is only stopped by death. These are the thoughts of Holden Caulfield right before he has a mental breakdown. Holden adores innocence and how only the young are subject to it. In Holden s mind ...
He even expresses that he misses all the people who did wrong to him. Holden is not mature enough to know what to do with this love, but he is mature enough to accept it. In this world, realizing what is squalor and what is good, and loving it all is the first step in achieving identity and humility: compassion is what The foretelling of the story ends abruptly but we learn that Holden in the end goes out west and is seeking psychological treatment in California. Through his recovery and the experiences of those two lonely days, he gains compassion towards everyone, in-cluding himself. While his vision of the catcher in the rye was a hope, a dream, and a job Holden realizes that such a dream is impractical in the world. Although innocence is not lost in Holden?s case, it is apparent that it was only passed by but by facing the world and loving it indiscriminately, such compassion will fill his need for acceptance and place in the world. Substantially giving Holden an admission into society and the acceptance of the responsibilities of adulthood. The Catcher in the Rye: Analysis of Hoden Caulfeild Innocence, Compassion, and some ?Crazy? Cliff. A novel, which has gained literary recognition worldwide, scrutiny to the point of censorship and has established a following among adolescents, The Catcher in the Rye is in its entirety a unique connotation of the preservation of innocence and the pursuit of compassion.
The Essay on The Happy Catcher Holden Made Rye
The Happy Catcher The Catcher in the Rye is a novel written by J. D. Salinger. This novel is about a boy, named Holden Caulfield, who goes through a very depressing time. In The Catcher in the Rye, there are significant items of the story such as, Jane, Allie s baseball mitt, the carousel, and the title of the novel. Jane Gallagher was significant in the story because she obviously meant a whole ...
With certain elegance the writer J.D. Salinger, substantiates the growth and perils, which lie between childhood and adulthood. Embellishing the differentiation between innocence and squalor in the grasps of society. The bridge that lies between these contrasting themes are personified through the novel?s protagonist, Holden Caulfield and his visualization of a cliff, which depicts a dividing point between the evident and end. The connection, which binds this gap in reality, was made clear through a new found compassion, consummating . Focusing on the rebellious and confused actuality of adolescents stuck between the innocence of childhood and the corruptness of the adult world, this novel strikes a cord, which most adolescents can relate. Holden Caulfield, the main character has been revealed in the first person view in a unique narrative of a teenage boy who forms a The essence of the story The Catcher in the Rye follows the forty-eight hour escapade of sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, told through first person narration. After his expulsion from Pency, a fashionable prep school, the lat-est in a long line of expulsions, Holden has a few confrontations with his fellow students and leaves shortly after to return to his hometown, New York City.
In the heart of New York City, Holden spends the following two days hiding out to rest before confronting his parents with the news. During his adventures in the city he tries to renew some old acquaintances, find his significance in the adult world, and come to grips with the head-aches he has been having lately. Eventually, Holden sneaks home to visit his sister Phoebe, because alone on the streets he feels as if he has no where else to turn. Children are the only people with whom Holden can communicate with throughout the novel, not because they can help him with his growing pains but because they remind him of a simpler time, his innocence, which he wishes he could return. The trials of the adult world wear down Holden?s vision of a place in society, portraying innocence as a form of retreat from a confusing world.
Understanding Holden?s notion of innocence and the role it play throughout the novel helps to put in tune the underlying message found in Holden?s description of the catcher in the rye. ?I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody?s around–nobody big, I mean- except me. And I?m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff–I mean if they?re running and they don?t look where they?re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That?s all I?d do all day. I?d just be the catcher in the rye and all? (173).
The Essay on Holden Caulfield from “The Catcher in The Rye”
“The Catcher in the Rye” the reader can see the world through his eyes as he is the one narrating the story in first person. Holden is a young teenager, the age of sixteen who is emotionally disturbed and confused boy who is entering the journey of adulthood. Holden is a typical teenager who is rather irritated and disgusted by the society that surrounds him. To me he comes across as a ...
The principle of the catcher in the rye is a means for Holden to devote his life to the protection of innocence. Secondly, it crystallizes for us Holden?s concept of good and evil; childhood is good, the only pure good, but it is surrounded by perils, the cliff of adolescence over which the children will plunge in the evil of adulthood unles stopped. But finally, the image is based on a mis-understanding. The Burns poem goes ?If a body meet a body? not ?if a body catch a body,? and the fact that Phoebe is aware of this and Holden is not, plus the manner in which these two words (?catch? and ?meet?) arere-examined and re-interpreted by Holden at the end of the novel, shows us in a powerful and deeply suggestive way the center of Holden?s diffi-culty.? Holden?s view of life as it is and the way life should be is based on a misunder-standing of man?s place in society. Having difficulty coming to grips with this misunder-standing, Holden crosses a threshold. Later he fatefully comes in contact with his sister once again, at the Central Park carrousel in the final scene of the novel. At the sight of his sister he is overcome by a love for all people when he sees how much his sister cares about him.
He even expresses that he misses all the people who did wrong to him. Holden is not mature enough to know what to do with this love, but he is mature enough to accept it. In this world, realizing what is squalor and what is good, and loving it all is the first step in achieving identity and humility: compassion is what The foretelling of the story ends abruptly but we learn that Holden in the end goes out west and is seeking psychological treatment in California. Through his recovery and the experiences of those two lonely days, he gains compassion towards everyone, in-cluding himself. While his vision of the catcher in the rye was a hope, a dream, and a job Holden realizes that such a dream is impractical in the world. Although innocence is not lost in Holden?s case, it is apparent that it was only passed by but by facing the world and loving it indiscriminately, such compassion will fill his need for acceptance and place in the world. Substantially giving Holden an admission into society and the acceptance of the responsibilities of adulthood.
The Essay on Lies A Lot And For Many Different Reason Holden World Things
In "The Catcher in the Rye" the main character and narrator of the story is Holden Cau field. Holden is telling the story of his adolescence from a hospital in California after having had a nervous breakdown. Holden is a troubled teenager that is unable to cope with school, people and life. Holden lies a lot and for many different reasons but I believe the biggest reason he lies is to make it ...
Bibliography:
Works Cited Salinger J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Canada: Little, Brown and Company, 1991