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Holden Caulfield
Holden's favourite saying is "if you really want to know the truth." I am going to give my views on what I feel to be "the truth" about Holden Caulfield.Holden has relationships with many different people throughout the book. I am going to start by writing about some of the people he has relationships with.The first woman that has had a large part in Holden's life is Jane Gallagher. We find out about Jane, when Stradlater tells Holden that she is his date. Immediately Holden starts telling Holden his life story. It is obvious that Holden has a bit of an obsession with Jane, when he starts telling us all about her, even about her moves in checkers - "She wouldn't move any of her kings. What she'd do when she'd get a king, she wouldn't move it." - We can see here that there maybe some kind of mental illness with Holden, because he remembers the oddest things about Jane. It may be that he is just cherishing the small details about her. He doesn't seem to have a normal conversation with Stradlater about her at all. He then asks Stradlater -"Did she tell you we used to play checkers all the time, or anything." - This is again an odd remark, because Jane Gallagher and Holden met during the summer, and she has probably forgotten about it now.He keeps saying that he should go down and see her - "I oughta go down and at least say hello to her." - He keeps saying this, but he
- Word count:2165
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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Is Holden Caufield a sufficiently interesting Character to be the hero of the novel?
Is Holden Caufield a sufficiently interestingCharacter to be the hero of the novel?In "Catcher in the Rye", Holden Caufield is in some respect portrayed as a spoilt rich kid because he is talking about lots of different schools that he has been to. But he also seems down to earth because he is aware of his surroundings and he gives away his money freely to charities "They let me give them 10 bucks as a contribution." However he does seem to care a bit about his money because when he was asked by Maurice is he wanted a girl for a throw and he said that it would cost 5 bucks, Holden didn't mind too much. But when later on that evening when Maurice and Sunny (the girl) came back wanting 5 more dollars Holden then got in a fight with Maurice, "Leave me alone. If you'd said 10, it'd be different. But you distinctly-"I think that the contradictions in his behaviour and attitudes are the signs of him making a genuine struggle to make sense of his world and to sort out what's worthwhile in life. An example of this happening is when he meets up with Sally and she suggests "Let's go ice-skating at Radio City" and he couldn't think why she came up with lots of diverse ideas "that's the kind of ideas she always had." However at the end of that chapter he thinks back to earlier on when he asked her if she would go with him to Massachusetts or Vermont, but then he thinks that he's a
- Word count:584
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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The novel is called The Catcher in the Rye because Holden hears in chapter 16, a poem written by Robert Burns called Comin through the Rye and he dreams of being a sort of guardian of the children who play in a rye field, and stop them when
) 1. The novel is called "The Catcher in the Rye" because Holden hears in chapter 16, a poem written by Robert Burns called "Comin' through the Rye" and he dreams of being a sort of guardian of the children who play in a rye field, and stop them when they get close enough to the edge of the cliff, so they wouldn't fall. This rye field would represent children's innocence and the cliff would be the loss of it, and the entrance to an adult world. In this case, Holden would be the guardian of children's innocence, as he knows how hard it is to enter the adult world. Holden behaves as the Catcher in the rye for instance, when he takes her sister, Phoebe, to the carrousel; and another example could be when he dances with her at their home. This examples show that he doesn't want her sister to lose her innocence with the troubles of growing up. This is because he has suffered too much while he was growing up.5. The significance of Holden's red hunting hat refers to what he wanted to show to people. With this hat, he felt like unique, better than the others surrounding him. During the novel, he is always mentioning the hat when he is wearing it, and if he hanged out with people he know, he wouldn't wear it, because that people knew who he really was. The red hat also refers to Holden's problem with isolation and with the companion he sometimes needed. There could be a connection
- Word count:1112
- Level: GCSE
- Subject:English
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The Catcher in the Rye-Holdens red hunting hat symbol.
The Catcher in the Rye essayIn the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, a major symbol developed in the novel is Holden Caulfield's red hunting hat. Holden's red hunting hat is a symbol to a few themes in the novel. The red hunting hat represents innocence in a big way. Furthermore, the hunting hat represents Holden's uniqueness to the world. The hunting hat is a very important symbol and represents Holden's personality greatly.Holden Caulfield's red hunting hat is a symbol of Holden's desire of innocence. An important characteristic to notice is the color of the hat, which is red. Holden's deceased brother Allie had red hair, and Allie was viewed by Holden to be the model of innocence. "People with red hair are supposed to get mad very easily, but Allie never did, and he had very red hair" (38). In addition, Holden makes it known that he has gray in his hair. "And I have quite a bit of gray hair" (57). Gray hair is usually a symbol of growing up and getting older. The times in which Holden wears his hat symbolize his desire for innocence as well. Holden does not wear his hat when out at bars or on dates, for it is obvious he needs to act older. Yet, usually when Holden is alone and journeying, he puts on his red hat (covering his gray hair) and in a way, hunts for innocence. Holden puts on his hat often when he is by himself and leaving somewhere, as if he is
- Word count:526
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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What's wrong with Holden Caulfield - Catcher in the Rye
What's Wrong With Holden CaulfieldThe Catcher in the Rye is the first and only novel written by J. D. Salinger which is told from the point of Holden Caulfield, a 16 year old boy confused about adolescence as he wants to connect to adults on their level but is unable to and just rejects them as phonies and retreats his memories of his childhood.The story has a reflective book-ended structure. Currently he's in an institution because of a breakdown he had a year ago. The narrative covers a weekend which led to this breakdown.He wants us to answer the question, "What's wrong with Holden Caulfield". Holden addresses the reader by saying "you", to make us psychoanalyse him.Holden has been expelled from many schools and has been expelled from his recent school Pencey Prep. Instead of going back home and disappoint his parents, he decides to wander around New York City where he meets interesting characters that either remind him of his unhappiness, phonies or shows him he can't connect to adults. Although Holden is friendly with many people at school and has several friends in New York, he is constantly lonely and needs someone who will sympathize with his feelings of alienation. The person Holden feels closest to is his ten year old sister Phoebe.He never connects or has a good relationship with anyone at Pencey. "It was one of the worst schools I ever went to. It was
- Word count:1129
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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Compare Pency Prep and Sleam House schools.
Compare Pency Prep and Sleam House schools. You should consider the following:* The presentation of the two headmasters* Relationships between the pupils* Relationships between teacher and pupil* Social and historical backgroundHistorical and Social BackroundBoth Pency Prep and Salem House have different historical and social backgrounds. However, they still have many similarities. I think that both schools are founded on hypocracy, and that they draw attention to a certain 'class' of people. Pency Prep advertised in many magazines showing readers that their school was excellent and different, when actually it was like most other schools." They advertised in about a thousand magazines, always showing some hot-shot guy on a horse jumping. Like all you ever did was polo at..."I think that wealthy parents would send their children to Pency Prep. Whereas people who want to get rid of there for a short period of time would sent their children to Salem House." Salem House was a square brick building with wing of bare and unfurnished appearance. "Salem House was also advertised in some sort of manner. The waiter at the\inn said that he and heard of the school, and he also knew stories about it. However, this quotation may be unreliable because he may have wanted to scare Dave." That's the school where they broke the boy's ribs - two ribs..."Differences between
- Word count:1326
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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Comparing Catcher in the Rye and Pygmalion and the Themes They Represent
Comparing Catcher in the Rye and Pygmalion and the Themes They RepresentIn J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden Caulfield, muses at one point on the possibility of escaping from the world of confusion and "phonies" while George Bernard Shaw's main character of Pygmalion, Eliza Dolittle, struggles to become a phony. The possible reason for this is that they both come from opposite backgrounds. Holden is a young, affluent teenager in 1950's America who resents materialism and Eliza Dolittle is a young, indigent woman who is living in Britain during the late 1800's trying to meet her material needs and wants. These two seemingly opposite characters do in fact have something in common: they, like every other person, are in a constant pursuit of happiness. This commonality is the basis for the themes these two stories present. Some of these themes go unconsidered and this leads to many misunderstandings in the world. This is why Pygmalion and Catcher in the Rye are not just stories but, in fact, lessons that are presented in their themes. These themes teach that being middle or upper class does not guarantee happiness, treating others with good manners and equality are important, and pronunciation and terminology can "put you in your place" in terms of class.Throughout the world's history, pronunciation and the way a language is
- Word count:2117
- Level:GCSE
- Subject: English
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The idea of Holden-as-saint was to prove appealing to many critics. But to others, like Maxwell Geismar, Holden is little more than a "sad, little screwed up hero," who if he is really meant to represent the non-conformist attitudes of the 1950's, "is a
Lissie FullerKABL6thBeechThe idea of Holden-as-saint was to prove appealing to many critics. But to others, like Maxwell Geismar, Holden is little more than a "sad, little screwed up hero," who if he is really meant to represent the non-conformist attitudes of the 1950's, "is a rebel without a past apparently and without cause."How far do you agree with Geismar's interpretation?We can learn about Holden's character from his own account of his adventures and to a lesser extent from his speeches and actions; and also from the reactions of others to him. All these factors can give us a lot of help in forming our own view on whether he is a "sad, little screwed up hero" or a quiet teenager who has been separated from society by his character but is really kind and thoughtful when you get to know him.Throughout the novel there are many factors that make me want to err on the side of caution when dubbing Holden with the harsh description that Maxwell Geismar has been so ready to label him with. One of the main examples that is repeated and backed up many times is Holden's obvious affection for his younger sister, Phoebe Caulfield. Once he has left Pencey Prep and made his way to New York by train he goes to a phone booth. The affection between Phoebe and Holden first shows itself to us in a subtle way here. He doesn't know who to call and the fact that he thinks of
- Word count:1384
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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The cather in the rye
Catcher in the ryeJerome David Salinger, born in New York City on January 1, 1919, may not have written many novels in which he is recognized for. Although, he did write one novel, which brought him fame. In many of Salinger's short stories and especially his most well-known novel he writes about how the main character falls from his or her own innocence then rises to face their challenges. In J.D. Salinger's, Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield goes through a fall from his innocence throughout his journey to his safe haven, home.One example of when Holden fell from his own innocence is when he is in the room with Phoebe and he can't name anything he likes. Holden reacts to this question by saying, "Boy, she was depressing me"(Salinger 169). The only three things he can name that he liked were Allie, James Castle, and sitting there chewing the fat with Phoebe. The reason this is a time when Holden falls is because he gets really depressed when he can barely think of anything he liked. The reason I think Holden gets so depressed is because two of the people he names are dead. That's why he is so lonely all the time. Holden finds things in common with Allie and James Castle and since they're both dead he feels, in the back of his mind, that he should also be dead which makes him depressed.Another example of a fall for Holden is when he realizes he can't erase even half
- Word count:3153
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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The Catcher in the Rye - That The Novel Justifies the Murder of John Lennon
The Catcher in the Rye: EssayBy James Hogan, 9SOn the evening of December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman calmly approached John Lennon outside of his apartment, pulled out a gun and fired five steady shots, four of which hit their mark. As the former Beatle, semi-conscious, lay on the ground haemorrhaging, Chapman pulled out his copy of The Catcher in the Rye and began to read. He later explained that he saw himself as an incarnation of the novel's main character, Holden Caulfield. On the inside cover, below the inscription, "This is my statement," Chapman signed the name Holden Caulfield. Chapman has claimed that his reasons and justification for the murder were contained in the book. This essay will prove that justification for the murder can be derived from the novel and the themes within.First, Holden's criticism towards what he refers to as "phonies" is a recurring theme throughout the book. Holden uses the broad term "phoniness" to describe the superficiality, hypocrisy, pretension, and shallowness that he encounters. He feels this way because of the adult tendency to adopt these qualities in social situations, and because he fears the idea of adulthood. He believes that he must protect the children who are growing up from adopting these qualities, and that he must keep them pure. Lennon was an outspoken purveyor of peace and was one of the largest political activists
- Word count:1067
- Level:GCSE
- Subject:English
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FAQs
Why do students read The Catcher in the Rye? ›
The Catcher in the Rye is not only a beautiful piece of writing. It is all about searching, connecting to people, growing up. These challenges are similar to those that each person might go through. That's why students of any college or university still love this book and relate to Holden in many ways.
What lesson does Catcher in the Rye teach? ›As its title indicates, the dominating theme of The Catcher in the Rye is the protection of innocence, especially of children. For most of the book, Holden sees this as a primary virtue. It is very closely related to his struggle against growing up.
How was Salinger as a student? ›Salinger's Valley Forge 201 file says he was a "mediocre" student, and his recorded IQ between 111 and 115 was slightly above average. He graduated in 1936. Salinger started his freshman year at New York University in 1936. He considered studying special education but dropped out the following spring.
Why is Catcher in the Rye so controversial? ›There have been many complaints made against The Catcher in the Rye. Many people feel that the book contains inappropriate offensive language, sexual content, occultism, and violence (“Banned Books Project”). Vulgarity is one complaint The Catcher in the Rye gets over and over again.
Why is Catcher in the Rye controversial to teach in schools? ›School boards and parent-teacher associations have been hostile toward the novel because of Holden's profanity-laden speech and his sexual adventures following his expulsion from prep school. These include an episode with a pimp and a prostitute (with whom Holden does not have sex) and a visit to an old teacher, Mr.
What is a metaphor in The Catcher in the Rye? ›The catcher in the rye metaphor means a prolonging of childhood or the blissful state of playing in a field of rye unaware of any dangers. Holden as the catcher, who knows that a cliff exists, would catch the kids before their fall.
What does Catcher in the Rye symbolize? ›The title of The Catcher in the Rye is a reference to "Comin' Thro the Rye," a Robert Burns poem and a symbol for the main character's longing to preserve the innocence of childhood.
What is Holden Caulfield syndrome? ›Holden Caulfield suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. The fictional cause is the death of his beloved little brother, Allie.
Why did Salinger regret write Catcher in the Rye? ›Salinger himself said he regretted writing "The Catcher in the Rye," mostly because of the attention it drew to him. The film also refers to Mary McCarthy's famous takedown of the Glass family stories, "J.D.
What was one of the main themes that concerned J. D. Salinger? ›Thus common themes in Salinger's works are alienation, loss of innocence and death.
What does Catcher in the Rye say about education? ›
To him, institutional education is nothing more than teaching kids how to be phony, how to make money, how to live the kind of lifestyle where they go into an office all day and play golf all weekend.
What are 4 reasons The Catcher in the Rye was banned? ›The American Library Association states that The Catcher in the Rye has been banned by schools and public libraries for having “excess vulgar language, sexual scenes, things concerning moral issues, excessive violence and anything dealing with the occult” and “communism,” among other things.
What mental issues does The Catcher in the Rye have? ›Caulfield may be seen as suffering from a variety of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This mental state could be a result of a variety of factors, including the death of his younger brother Allie, as well as witnessing the gruesome scene of a classmate's death.
How is Catcher in the Rye anti white? ›Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is labeled “anti-white.” The “anti-white” quote on the Catcher cover comes from a 1963 effort to ban Catcher, Brave New World and To Kill a Mockingbird. Presumably, the anti-white complaint is more targeted at the book in which African-American characters are mistreated by whites.
Why is the color purple banned? ›“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker has been banned in schools all over the country since 1984, due to its graphic sexual content and situations of violence and abuse. While “The Color Purple” contains a lot of controversial content, it's necessary to the story and is what makes the book so real and unique.
Why is Fahrenheit 451 banned? ›Why Was Fahrenheit 451 Banned? Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 was banned several times in an effort to censor the graphic content of the story. Even though the story is about censorship, the novel has also been subject to censorship and banning.
What is the first case of Catcher being banned? ›The first record of The Catcher in the Rye being banned was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1960 after an eleventh grade English teacher was fired for assigning the book to his class. Since then, more than 30 incidences have been recorded across the United States of the book being removed from schools and/or classes.
What is the foreshadowing in The Catcher in the Rye? ›When Holden decides to leave Pencey Prep a few days early, he says he “sort of needed a little vacation” before returning to his family's house, but automatically tells the cab driver to take him to his parents' house, foreshadowing his eventual return home.
What is a hyperbole in The Catcher in the Rye? ›Hyperbole is a form of overstatement that is not meant to be taken literally. An example of hyperbole appears on the novel's first page, when Holden claims that his parents “would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.” Holden also has a propensity for generalization.
What does the red hunting hat symbolize? ›Here, the red hunting hat symbolizes Holden's alienation from society and his intentional isolation from people. In addition, buying the hat is Holden's way of trying to protect himself from society's consequences, such as the ridicule he probably received after losing his team's equipment.
What are 3 symbols in The Catcher in the Rye? ›
- The “Catcher in the Rye”
- Holden's Red Hunting Hat.
- The Museum of Natural History.
- The Ducks in the Central Park Lagoon.
The red hunting hat is one of the most recognizable symbols from twentieth-century American literature. It is inseparable from our image of Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his uniqueness and individuality. The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires to be different from everyone around him.
What is ironic about The Catcher in the Rye? ›The irony of The Catcher in the Rye is that Holden subconsciously longs to be accepted yet feels he cannot make the connection. Yet he does by making Salinger the unwilling, erstwhile guru to a generation of displaced teenagers who made Holden an icon of their angst.
What does the last line of The Catcher in the Rye mean? ›From that, Holden is in the hospital. The last line of the book says, "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." From what I remember, this means that Holden made up all of those stories.
What trauma did Holden go through? ›When the novel opens, Salinger's protagonist, Holden, is reeling from two traumas: his little brother Allie has died of leukemia and his parents, in a misguided attempt to protect him, bar him from attending the funeral before shipping him off to prep school. He's expelled from that school, and three others.
What does Holden have PTSD from? ›While Holden has no direct experience of war, he relays several experiences from his past that may indicate he is suffering from post-traumatic stress as well. Most important is the death of his brother, Allie.
Why is The Catcher in the Rye so important? ›One of the reasons that teenagers have appreciated The Catcher in the Rye over the years is because of Holden's outsider status. He doesn't belong anywhere. He's in the no-man's land–between teen-hood and adulthood. But, critics have also questioned whether he actually matures at all.
What is the metaphor of The Catcher in the Rye? ›The catcher in the rye metaphor means a prolonging of childhood or the blissful state of playing in a field of rye unaware of any dangers. Holden as the catcher, who knows that a cliff exists, would catch the kids before their fall.
Is The Catcher in the Rye hard to read? ›CATCHER is hard to read for some people. This may be in part because of the narrative voice and the confining first-person point of view. Another reason is the lack of a clear plot line. There's no antagonist or clear goal that the protagonist is striving toward.
What disorders does Holden have? ›Salinger's manuscript for The Catcher in the Rye. Today, readers might infer that Holden must be suffering from some combination of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. Holden himself references mental illness, trauma, and psychoanalysis.