The Catcher In The Rye :: essays research papers

The novel The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is about a troubled young man named Holden Caulfield. Holden searches his teenage life, struggling to take in answers to his questions about himself and his identity. No matter where Holden goes, in his opinion he is surrounded by phonies. They appear to be everywhere Holden is his school, the hotel, the theatre, and all over the streets of for struggled-looking York. The trading floor is told from Holdens point of view, as he endeavours to put together the pieces of the puzzle that he calls his life.Holden Caulfield, the main section in the novel, is an immature teenager. Holden is viteen years old, six feet two inches tall, with a crew cut and prematurely greying hair. His story begins as he is kicked out of prep school, and takes off to New York. Holdens thoughts and ideas reveal many of his character traits. One late Saturday night, four days before the beginning of school vacation, Holden decides to leave Pencey, his scho ol, at once and travels to New York by train. Once in New York, he decides that he will stay in a cheap motel until Wednesday, when he is to return home. His plan shows how very impetuous he is and how he acts on a whim. He is unrealistic, thinking that he has a foolproof plan, even though the extent of his plans are to take a room in a hotel...and just take it easy till Wednesday. This course of action proves Holdens recklessness and immaturity very early on in the novel.Another well minor (and yet still imperative) addition to the novel is Phoebe Caulfield. Holdens younger sister is his main supporter. She sticks with him no matter what, but she also, however, is not panic-stricken to scold Holden for his errors. Although Phoebe is merely a young child, she understands Holden, sometimes more than he does. Old Phoebe didnt say anything, but she was listening.... she always listens when you specialise her something. And the funny part is she knows, half the time, what the hell yo ure talking about. She really does. (167) Phoebe is an instant reminder of delight to Holden, and every decision he makes revolves in some way around the sister he loves so much.Holden Caulfield, at first, appears to be having a conflict with society, but, upon closer examination, we see that he is truly only at war with himself.