Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger Essay

:: 7 Works Cited
Length: 1156 words (3.3 double-spaced pages)
Rating: Yellow      
Open Document


The novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” revolves around the protagonist Holden Caulfield as the story is told from his perspective. J.D. Salinger constructed Holden Caulfield as a cynical person who cannot accept to grow up. Throughout “The Catcher in the Rye,” J.D. Salinger uses symbolism to reveal and reinforce critical aspects of the protagonist Holden Caulfield. Three important aspects Holden acquired through Salinger’s use of symbolism are: his stubborn, uncompromising mentality; his softer, more caring respectful side; Holden’s cowardly way of acting and thinking.
A big trait in Holden’s character is the stubbornness. Holden is not willing to accept his problems in addition to let others help him. It is equally important to realize that Holden’s stubbornness is fatal to changing, otherwise growing up. One of the first symbols introduced is Holden’s red hunting hat. “This is a people shooting hat. I shoot people in this hat. (3.31)” gives signs that this hat is a way to alienate himself from the world. When Holden articulates it is for shooting people; shooting really means calling them phonies to only stubbornly protect himself from the outer world. Proceeding to Holden’s visit to Phoebe’s school, the f**k you signs on the wall are a way of representing the negative influences on kids. Holden’s stubbornness is shown when he attempts to erase them off the wall, although states “you couldn’t rub out even half the ‘F**k You’ signs in the world.(25.18)” The symbol’s meaning towards the story is understood that it’d be pointless to erase even all of the negative influences in the world because they’d just re-appear, except the protagonist cannot accept the reality of the situation. Jumping right to the end of the novel, when Phoebe ...

... middle of paper ...



Need Writing Help?

Get feedback on grammar, clarity, concision and logic instantly.

Check your paper »

This essay is 100% guaranteed.

Title Length Color Rating  
Holden Caulfield of The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger Essay - When one’s imagination becomes the director and producer of his thoughts and actions, he loses touch with reality. The ideas and plans are in a chaotic time slot; loneliness becomes the major factor in forming erratic thoughts and actions. In the novel A Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger gives insight to the protagonist’s thoughts, experiences, and frustrations in his world. Holden Caulfield’s instinctive desire to be a savior of the innocents evolves, and many times in the story, he faces disappointment....   [tags: The Catcher in the Rye Essays] 2262 words
(6.5 pages)
Strong Essays [preview]
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger as Holden Caulfield Essay - The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger as Holden Caulfield The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is home to the protagonist Holden Caulfield. There is no coincidence that he holds a striking resemblance to the author of the novel himself. Salinger seemed to have a similar childhood as Holden describes in The Catcher in the Rye. Both men also seemed to have a certain fascination with younger children, especially younger women. J.D. Salinger based one of his most famous characters, Holden Caulfield, on personal experience....   [tags: Catcher Rye Essays] 424 words
(1.2 pages)
Strong Essays [preview]
(3.7 pages)
Strong Essays [preview]
Holden Caulfield's Mental Condition in The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger - Where do the ducks go during the Winter when the water is frozen. In The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the character, Holden Caulfield, has an underlying mental condition. He failed out of four schools; he saw his friend commit suicide; and his younger brother died of cancer. These life-changing experiences paved the way for Holden’s insecure and unstable life. By his narration, Holden hints at his disorder throughout the book without fully explaining his condition. Holden’s many insecurities, his teetering on the edge of childhood and adulthood, and his irrational ideas help the reader realize that Holden has a mental problem....   [tags: The Catcher in the Rye Essays] 1099 words
(3.1 pages)
Strong Essays [preview]
Diagnosis of Holden Caulfield in A Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Essay - The period of adolescence is one of growth. There will be necessary physiological, sexual, and mental changes in a person during this period, therefore making it one of the most important sections of life. If an error is found during the growth of an adolescent, it must be corrected. Holden Caulfield, is an erred adolescent, so he must be fixed. This paper will present a diagnosis for Holden, provide evidence for this claim, provide a hypothetical source for his syndrome, and then recommend a course of treatment....   [tags: Bipolar, Mental Illness, Depression]
:: 1 Works Cited
567 words
(1.6 pages)
Strong Essays [preview]
Holden Caulfield and the Pressures of Society: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - ... The reason behind these lies is to keep Mrs. Morrow from becoming hurt or disappointed, supporting Pinsker’s belief. Even with a stranger that Holden barely knew, he is attentive and does anything to keep he or she happy. Additionally, when Holden and his friend, Mal, are going out for the night, Holden invites Ackley to come along with them. Although Mal is reluctant, Holden eventually convinces him to let Ackley accompany them. Holden finds Ackley annoying and obnoxious at times but feels sympathy for him....   [tags: confucius, symbols, good child]
:: 6 Works Cited
1289 words
(3.7 pages)
Term Papers [preview]
Parallels Between the Conflicts of J.D. Salinger and Holden Caulfield from Catcher and the Rye - ... That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all” (Salinger 173). Holden implies if you fall of the cliff of childhood you mature, but if Holden catches you, you remain innocent. Holdens views on innocence directly impacted the way he viewed of adults. The views he had on adults corresponded to the years when Holden lived with his parents. His parents were absent for the majority of his life. The only situation he would heard from his parents was when he got kicked out of school....   [tags: childhood, innocence, lonliness]
:: 1 Works Cited
612 words
(1.7 pages)
Better Essays [preview]
Mental Analysis on Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger´s The Catcher in the Rye - Today in the United States, according the Nation Institute of Mental Health, , almost one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, and one in seventeen adults are suffering from mental disorders that can be considered serious, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, panic disorder, and post traumatic stress disorders (Health Care Service Corporation) (The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America). J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, provides the narrative of a young adult, Holden Caulfield, who I believe shows many symptoms of several different mental disorders....   [tags: disorders, symptoms, stability, mental]
:: 4 Works Cited
810 words
(2.3 pages)
Better Essays [preview]
Holden Caulfield´s Innocence and Purity in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - ... This passage from the story tells a lot about Holden, “I couldn't think of anybody to call up. My brother D.B. was in Hollywood. My kid sister Phoebe goes to bed around nine o'clock--so I couldn't call her up. (...) My parents would be the ones. So that was out. Then I thought of giving Jane Gallagher's mother a buzz, and find out when Jane's vacation started, but I didn't feel like it. (...) Then I thought of calling this girl I used to go around with quite frequently, Sally Hayes, because I knew her Christmas vacation had started already--she'd written me this long, phony letter, inviting me over to help her trim the Christmas tree Christmas Eve and all--but I was afraid her mother'd...   [tags: companionship, judgemental, mature, pleasures] 848 words
(2.4 pages)
Strong Essays [preview]
Essay about Holden Caulfield as Protagonist in The Catcher in the Rye - Holden Caulfield is the protagonist in the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. Holden has a bleak outlook on life, but respects the basic human qualities. He views the world as having been taken over by materialistic objects such as money and that people do not realize the importance of basic human qualities such as love and kindness. He believes that these basic human qualities can take people further than any material object can. Holden is very cynical of everything around him. He sees the worst in everything and everyone....   [tags: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, protagonist] 677 words
(1.9 pages)
Better Essays [preview]