The Catcher in the Rye Symbolism
- Submitted by: PaigeRichmond1
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 11/28/2013 06:18 PM
- Pages: 10
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Critical Text
22/11/13
Hypothesis: Symbols in The Catcher in the Rye are used to transform the most straight forward themes.
“Certain things should stay the way they are.” Holden Caulfield, the main character and the narrator of the controversial classic, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger. Salinger’s first person narration in combination with the symbols in the novel is his two main features which Salinger uses to transform the most straight forward themes. Firstly the theme fear of change; the theme involves the avoidance and pain of change. This is explored through the symbol of “The National Museum of Natural History.” Secondly the theme of alienation as a form of self-protection, Holden is afraid of forming connections with people as he has had many people let him down before. The fear is guided by his brother’s death as this left him distraught and he didn’t know how to handle his feelings. The final theme crafted by symbolism is growing up; this theme is developed through the symbol of Holden being “the catcher in the rye.” Although, the novel itself has become a symbol of growing up over the years since it was written. Teenagers for decades have relied on The Catcher in the Rye to help them through adolescence. The novel depicts teenage struggle against growing up which had never so accurately been presented in a novel before and yet to this day it is debatable whether it has been presented that well again.
Holden has spent the last three years of his life moving from boarding school to boarding school after being expelled from three. The novel commences as Holden is expelled from his fourth boarding school. The pain of never having a stable life, since his older brother Allie died from cancer, has had an enormous impact on Holden. He has struggled to form relationships with people his age and has begun to push his parents away from him. He sets of for New York City in order to hid out until the school holidays so he does not have to...
22/11/13
Hypothesis: Symbols in The Catcher in the Rye are used to transform the most straight forward themes.
“Certain things should stay the way they are.” Holden Caulfield, the main character and the narrator of the controversial classic, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger. Salinger’s first person narration in combination with the symbols in the novel is his two main features which Salinger uses to transform the most straight forward themes. Firstly the theme fear of change; the theme involves the avoidance and pain of change. This is explored through the symbol of “The National Museum of Natural History.” Secondly the theme of alienation as a form of self-protection, Holden is afraid of forming connections with people as he has had many people let him down before. The fear is guided by his brother’s death as this left him distraught and he didn’t know how to handle his feelings. The final theme crafted by symbolism is growing up; this theme is developed through the symbol of Holden being “the catcher in the rye.” Although, the novel itself has become a symbol of growing up over the years since it was written. Teenagers for decades have relied on The Catcher in the Rye to help them through adolescence. The novel depicts teenage struggle against growing up which had never so accurately been presented in a novel before and yet to this day it is debatable whether it has been presented that well again.
Holden has spent the last three years of his life moving from boarding school to boarding school after being expelled from three. The novel commences as Holden is expelled from his fourth boarding school. The pain of never having a stable life, since his older brother Allie died from cancer, has had an enormous impact on Holden. He has struggled to form relationships with people his age and has begun to push his parents away from him. He sets of for New York City in order to hid out until the school holidays so he does not have to...