The theme I am going to focus on in this book report is innocence, which is directly related to theme of authentic versus artificial. This theme reflects Holden's view of the world and life. Holden sees life as a conflict between authentic and artificial and this theme relates to his attitude towards children and the preserving of their innocence. If these children might succumb to the ways of the adult world, they will become "phonies", untrue to themselves. This is a dominating theme in the book, which is characterized by two literary elements: characterization and symbolism.
The first literary device, which constitutes the development of this major theme in the book The Catcher in the rye, is characterization. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, is residing at Pency Prep. Holden is an intelligent and sensitive boy but has a very cynical and jaded point of view of the world. Holden finds the hypocrisy and the ugliness of the world around him unbearable. Through this cynicism, Holden tries to protect himself from the "phoniness" of the adult world. But these criticisms seemed to be aimed at him as well. At times he can be both very phony and superficial. This shows his incapability of hiding from the adult world. Holden can admit to his flaw, the immaturity. He admits to sometimes acting like a 12-year old, although he is 17 years old at the time of the story telling. Holden knows he should act more mature. But, this brings us back to theme of the book. Holden is afraid to indulge into the adult world of "phoniness" and tries to resist it. He has a struggle or a conflict with growing up and the adult world becomes an enemy because of all the cruelty and artificiality it entails. His body is telling him it is time to change, as are his basic impulses. Holden is attracted to the ways of adulthood, the sex, the drinking, etc. This in turn forces Holden's character to be protective of children and innocence.
So what is Catcher in the Rye really about??? ... So what is The Catcher in the Rye actually about? ... "The Catcher in the Rye" is a story of an emotionally disturbed young sixteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield. ... I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. ... John Hinkley may have been trying to impress Jody Foster, but he was also a big Catcher in the Rye fan. ...
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. ... One of the most important passages in the novel comes when Holden tells Phoebe that he would like to be the catcher in the rye. ... Trapped in his own conscience and with his innocence in uncertainty, Holden wants to be the "Catcher in the Rye" so he can protect children's innocence that is missing in the world around him. ... Salinger's book Catcher in the Rye, Holden is a troubled, depressed teen looking for a world that is not phony; eventually four scenes in the novel finally lead him to a breakdown. In the end, Holden discovers that being a ...
In the novel Catcher in the Rye Holden is a character that has many idealistic thoughts. He has ideals about such things as childhood innocence, intelligent conversation, and escape to a fantasy world. ... Holden tells Phoebe about a dream of wanting to be the catcher in the rye. This means that he wants to be there when children fall off the cliff of innocence. ... Holden had to let go of his ideal about being the catcher in the rye because it was not realistic. ...
"The Catcher in the Rye" Reflection The title "The Catcher in the Rye" is to symbolize how Holden wants to protect the innocence of little kids. In the novel he told Phoebe that he wants to be the catcher in the rye, he would stand at the edge of a cliff as children play around with him, and he would catch them before they ran too close to the cliff. ... Salinger called the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" because it signifies how even though Holden is the way he is; he still has the innocence of a little child inside of him. ... The innocence of Holden makes him have his nervous break do...
Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is frequently being banned from high schools. ... Although it does contain invective speech and sexual connotations, The Catcher in the Rye by J. ... It may be obvious why so many high schools are banning Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. ... Another cardinal notion for teenagers who are entering adulthood is the central theme of The Catcher in the Rye, the loss of innocence. ... I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. (173) When Holden divulges that he wishes to be the catcher in the rye, he is unveiling his desire to protect childhood...
Catcher in the Rye The American Dream for family will greatly vary between people, as it should. ... Holden sees phoniness in the family as he does in society and he flees back toward the innocence of childhood rather than face this reality. In the Catcher in the Rye Holden and His "Phony" Family the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, interacts with many people throughout J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, but probably none have as much impact on him as certain members of his immediate family. ... Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden describes and interacts with various memb...
The Catcher In The Rye J.D. Salinger The Catcher In The Rye, by J.D. ... The Catcher In The Rye was a somewhat ironic title, occurring twice throughout the book. ... Haden replies that he wants to be the "catcher" in the rye. ... Once you have read The Catcher In The Rye we are reminded of the innocence of youth. ...
Salinger's novel, "The Catcher in the Rye," the reader is introduced to Holden Caulfield, a very troubled teenager who is fixated on protecting the innocent from the cruel realities of the world. ... Holden's one true desire in life is to protect the innocence of others as well as his self and he explains how he wants to be "the catcher in the rye." ... I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all"" (Salinger 191). ... Holden is not only the protector of others innocence but his own innocence which he sees as his virginity. ... Holden takes on this duty of protecting innocence, bu...
In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, Holden has found enormous corruption and vulgarity in society. ... His newfound purpose in life will be to help save the children from this vulgarity by becoming a "Catcher in the Rye." In chapter 16 we have the first reference to the meaning of the novel's title, The Catcher in the Rye. ... I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. ... In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, Holden wishes to be "The Catcher in the Rye" but realizes he cannot fill this position alone. ...
