Examples Of Alienation In Catcher In The Rye - 825 Words

J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye explores Holden Caulfield’s alienation and its ability to influence his thoughts and actions. Holden’s distorted perception of reality manifests itself following the death of his younger brother Allie, whom he loved and idolized dearly. Allie’s death wreaks havoc on Holden’s mental state, causing him to develop a cynical worldview. His delusional behaviors are compounded by his expulsion from multiple schools and his decision to independently roam the streets of New York. Throughout the novel, Holden encounters old acquaintances such as Carl Luce, who quickly judge Holden’s peculiarities; however, the only person who truly makes an effort to help him emotionally is his sister Phoebe. Recognizing the†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, Holden quickly realizes his values discord with those of society’s, causing him to falsely believe the adult world is â€Å"full of phonies† (185). Unwi lling to associate himself with this phoniness, Holden isolates himself from the adult world; he continues to cling onto his waning childhood. Allies death instills in Holden a pessimistic attitude toward life, and he uses his contempt for society a means to justify his alienation. Although Holden’s madness may be dismissed as the irrational actions of a misguided teenager, his alienation reveals the harshness of reality and the consequences of emotional trauma. As a result of Allie’s death, Holden loses his childlike naivety and is exposed to life’s adversities. He becomes â€Å"confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior† (208) to the point where he purposefully irritates others in an attempt to avoid social interaction. When Holden is at a bar with his former schoolmate Carl Luce, Luce immediately mentions how Holden’s â€Å"mind is immature† (163) and suggests that Holden needs a psychoanalyst. However, Luce makes no attempt to sympathize with him, let alone help him cope with his madness. Luce’s insincerity mirrors that of the society; the adult world does not even remotely care about Holden’s emotional turmoil. Even though society’s indifference leads to his longing for humanSh ow MoreRelatedAlienation and Isolation in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger700 Words   |  3 PagesTouch with Society In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger discusses the ideas of alienation and isolation. He notes that if one is unable to keep up with society they lose touch. Salinger portrays alienation and isolation through literary devices such as symbolism. Some of the symbolic features use in the novel is Holden’s red hunting hat which shows Holden’s uncommon desire compared to society’s desires. Another significant symbolic feature is the catcher in the rye; this represents Holden’s ideaRead MoreAnalysis Of Salinger s The Catcher Rye 1074 Words   |  5 PagesJournal Responses Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye has been pronounced a literary classic for its atypical portrayal of adolescence, to effectively convey the protagonist’s alienation and confusion. The introduction of The Catcher in the Rye is underpinned by disorder and confusion through a stream-of-consciousness narration, which digresses from one subject to another. Consequently, Holden’s multitudinous thoughts and feelings appear to lack a cohesive pattern. Additionally, Holden’s prevalentRead MoreHow Salinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers Throughout Time1412 Words   |  6 PagesHow Salinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers Throughout Time In 1951, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye was #1 on the New York Time’s bestseller list. Since then, the American Literary Association claims The Catcher in the Rye is a â€Å"favorite of censors.† The use of harsh language and profanity has been a long time debate of educators causing the novel to be pulled off bookshelves and propelling J.D. Salinger and his protagonist, Holden Caulfield, into reluctant fame. TheRead MoreTheme Analysis of Alienation in Books the Catcher in the Rye and 19841390 Words   |  6 PagesAlienation sometimes called estrangement is a psychological, sociological or Philosophical-anthropological category, largely derived from the writings of Hegel, Feuerbach and Marx. When one is not accepted by society, he becomes an Outsider to everyone around him. Alienation refers to an individuals estrangement from traditional community or others in general (social isolation), the dominant values of society, or even themselves (self-estrangement), but in General the term impliesRead 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 treatment, the book continues to engage audiences across generations. The way that Salinger writes gives the audience a veryRead MoreEssay Comparison of the Social Network and the Catcher in the Rye1111 Words   |  5 Pagesexplore the personal dilemmas of their protagonists, Holden Caulfield and Mark Zuckerberg, in The Catcher in the Rye and The Social Network? In David Fincher’s The Social Network and J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, a story of two young men, Holden Caulfield and Mark Zuckerberg face many difficulties and ultimately are very vulnerable souls. The dilemmas that Holden and Mark face are alienation, betrayal and identity. Fincher and Salinger both use many techniques in order to highlight theseRead MoreThe Themes of The Catcher in the Rye840 Words   |  3 PagesConsidered one of the best novels of the 20th century, The Catcher in the Rye has affected readers around the globe since its publication in 1951. Its contemporary critics, however, gave the novel mixed reviews. Compared to the ideals of 1950s America, Holden Caulfield, the emotionally immature, extremely judgmental, teen-aged main character of â€Å"Catcher,† embodies the antithesis. Holden was an affront to the new social order, which demanded conformity and propagated the â€Å"father knows best† mentalityRead MoreCatcher in the Rye776 Words   |  4 PagesResearch pap. Catcher in the Rye is a book of many themes of many different types of different things. The main character of the book is Holden Caulfield, this guy has major problems. He’s alone and he knows it, he hates everyone and judges them too. Some themes of this story are the sadness, the lies and deceit, and Holden’s youth. Every one of these themes describe Holden in different ways, mostly it describes what he’s like. SADNESS Sadness permeates The Catcher in the Rye. Main characterRead MoreReview Of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower 1569 Words   |  7 Pagesthe transition from childhood to adulthood. Stephen Chobsky’s novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, are critically acclaimed coming of age stories that document the turbulence of adolescence. The protagonists of these novels, Charlie and Holden Caulfield, both encounter common themes in adolescence such as alienation, confusion of sexuality, and loss of innocence. However, although Charlie and Holden share similar experiences in their adolescenceRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye900 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, the characters help portray many themes. J.D Saligner creatively infused his work with varying themes. Holden unknowingly magnifies the importance of the themes, of which he is often times oblivious. This novel is sophisticatedly writt en in a manner that allows us to see all the themes clearly. The themes portrayed in the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger include phoniness, psychological alienation, and futile protection of innocence