... been largely defined by a character's struggle to understand and satisfy the expectations of a rapidly changing American society. In response to this confusion, characters often seek to escape their troubles and, in turn, embark on a journey that leads to both self-identification and maturation. The Narrator in Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City, and Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, are two such characters. In Bright Lights, Big City, the Narrator escapes family ... and marriage problems, coupled with his monotonous career, through the use of drugs and pa...

• Word Count: 3026
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School