How Salinger’s Holden Caulfield Relates to Teenagers...

How 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. The translation of the book into many other languages speaks to the relevance of Holden’s teenage experience in many different nations and cultures. As J.D. Salinger takes the reader through Holden’s journey, it becomes obvious that Holden is†¦show more content†¦Holden is attracted to the displays because they are frozen and do not change. The museum is a world that is stopped in time and everlasting. Here there is no conflict and things are simple and understandable. In contrast, in the real world, Holden is angr y and confused about Allie’s death and the unfairness of the real world. Part of the pain of growing up is teenage emotion. His breakdown and confusion represent teenage angst (Favorite Fictional 2). As teenagers around the world relate to Holden’s teenage struggles, they also relate to his rebellion against society. Holden rebels against every aspect of society, including religion and materialism. Holden cannot find strong religious and moral beliefs in society and becomes angry and frustrated with both religion and society. As Holden describes his views of Christianity, â€Å"I like Jesus and all, but I don’t care too much for most of the other stuff in the Bible. Take the Disciples for instance. They annoy the hell out of me, if you want to know the truth. They were alright after Jesus was dead and all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Salinger 130). As teenagers go through the stage of questioning authority and society, religion is one that many teenagers question. Holden, Salinger’s unhappy and rebellious character, is a regular teenager in this aspect causing teenagers around the world to relate to him (Evans 1). Another example of Holden’s rebellion against religion is his use of the Lord’sShow MoreRelatedThe Catcher in the Rye Essay790 Words   |  4 PagesD. Salinger. It is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a cynical teenager who recently got expelled from his fourth school. Though Holden is the narrator and main character of the story, the focus of Salinger’s tale is not on Caulfield, but of the world in which we live. The Catcher in the Rye is an insatiable account of the realities we face daily seen through the eyes of a bright young man whose visions of the world are painfully truthful, if not a bit jaded. Salinger’s book is a must-read because itsRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay: The Importance of Language1464 Words   |  6 Pagesin The Catcher in the Rye   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye has captured the spirit of adolescence, dramatizing Holden Caulfields vulgar language and melodramatic reactions. Written as the autobiographical account of a fictional teenage prep school student named Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye deals with material that is socially scandalous for the time (Gwynn, 1958). As an emotional, intelligent, and sensitive young man, Holden puts his inner world to the test through theRead MoreSummary Of Salinger s The Catcher Rye And Franny And Zooey 1966 Words   |  8 Pagesimpacted this country, but the world as a whole. Specifically, J.D. Salinger. He is a well-known author who has wrote many influential books such as The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey. Salinger’s childhood, education, significant people, major influences,and historical events have all had an impact on how he became the face of a literary movement as well as his contributions to the art of American Li terature. Jerome David Salinger was born on January 1, 1919 in New York CIty. His mother, MariamRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay1244 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel explores many themes that are commonly felt by teenagers. Salinger’s novel discusses Holden’s stand against phoniness. Another major theme running through the novel is self-loathing, and while it may not be quite that extreme in all cases, most teenagers go through the â€Å"awkward† stage. Loneliness is also expressed in the novel. Every teenager goes through a time were they feel like they’re alienated. In a lot of ways, Holden also literally wants to be the catcher in theRead MoreControversial American Literature, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye1058 Words   |  5 Pagesof the most controversial American Literature books, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, went into full turbulence and had all the attention of critics everywhere during its release in 1951. Holden Caulfield, a New York City teenager in the 1950’s with manic-depression is the protagonist, is a protagonist unlike any other in coming-of-age novels. What most critics don’t realize is that his actions are exactly those of a depressed teenager would endure: being an immature compulsive liar who is manic-depressiveRead MoreEssay On The Catcher In The Rye Writing Style2012 Words   |  9 Pagesmisunderstand Salinger’s work. Holden is lonely and afraid. After a lot of trouble and terrible experiences he is alone and realizes the world really does not care about him. The â€Å"Catcher and the Rye† is a powerful and moving b ook whose theme is still strong in American Culture today. Capturing and understanding the teen voice remains to be a struggle in the American Family of today. Salinger’s writing style was depicted by the very blunt Holden Caulfield. As the narrator, Caulfield articulates preciselyRead MoreEssay On Red Hunting Hat In Catcher In The Rye1071 Words   |  5 Pagesquestioned why he was wearing a deer hunting hat when he was not hunting deer. Holden Caulfield, main character of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, regularly dons a red deer hunting hat for the majority of the novel. The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age novel showing how the main character spends his days between moving out of his private school and returning home to his parents in New York in his hunting hat. Caulfield must manage the constant changing of schools, underage drinking, and notRead MoreCatcher In The Rye Quotes For Holden Caulfby1805 Words   |  8 PagesHolden Caulfield: Timeless or Time or Meds? J. D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield has long been hailed as the timeless American teenager, but he has also always had his detractors. One such 15-year-old boy from Long Island said that when they read Catcher in the Rye, everyone in his class hated Holden and wanted to tell him â€Å"Shut up and take your Prozac† (www.nytimes.com). How can a character be so hated so much by the teenagers who are supposed to relate to him Holden struggles with issues that transcendRead MoreCatcher in the Rye4413 Words   |  18 Pagesin the Rye 4 The Sexual Matter 5 The Caulfield Family 6 Narrator and Protagonist 8 Role Model 9 Mr. Antolini 10 Targeted Audience 10 Guidance 12 It is not Criticism 13 Exposing Culture 13 Conclusion – Fall of Innocence 15 Works Cited List 17 Abstract This essay is a detailed analysis about The Catcher in the Rye investigating whether it is relevant for youth and society[1] in the present day. The essay investigates how the author, Jerome David Salinger (J.DRead MoreInto The Mind Of Holden Caulfield1755 Words   |  8 PagesJourneying into the Mind of Holden Caulfield One can conclude that Holden Caulfield is one of the strangest boys you’ll ever meet upon reading J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Holden can be happy one second, and down in the dumps the next, or Caulfield can be a lustful, suave man to a woman at one moment, and a downright jerk the next. Throughout the whole book the reader wonders, what is going on in this boy s head? With just a brief skim of the internet, it is clear to see that a prominent