Abstract
The Catcher in the Rye was written by famous American writer J.D.Salinger. This paper mainly analyzes the adolescent problems Holden Caulfield confronts on the journey from childhood to adulthood. These adolescent problems include Holden’s protection of innocence, his disgust for the phoniness of the adult world, and his alienation from society. This paper concludes that these adolescent problems produce great impact on him. Holden behaves almost erratically and impulsively and has negative attitudes towards almost everything and everyone he meets.
Highlights
Represent and wears it as a way to connect to them
Holden imagines that he would catch them if they start to go over the cliff. His dream of becoming a “catcher in the rye” shows that Holden has affection for childhood. He wishes to save these children from danger so that they may frolic in the fields; we can interpret this as Holden’s wish to save the children from the phony adult world
Holden’s obsession with the profanity is notable, for it shows his distaste for anything that may corrupt the innocence of children
Summary
Throughout the novel, Holden seems to be excluded from and victimized by the world around him. Because Holden depends on his isolation to preserve his detachment from the world and to maintain a level of self-protection, he often gives up his own attempts to end his loneliness His conversation with Carl Luce and his date with Sally Hayes are made unbearable by his rude behavior. Alienation is both the source of Holden’s strength and the source of his problems His loneliness propels him into his date with Sally Hayes, but his need for isolation causes him to insult her and drive her away. He longs for the meaningful connection he once had with Jane Gallagher, but he is too frightened to make any real effort to contact her.
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