"Standing on the precipice that separates the rye field of childhood from the cliff of adulthood, Holden wants to protect childhood innocence from the fall into disillusionment that necessarily accompanies childhood" (Phillips). .
Holden's preoccupation with childhood and youth innocence has a lot to do with the struggles he's been through. Although Holden vows in the beginning that he won't talk about his adolescence, Salinger lets several of his disturbing occurrences slip through as Holden is reminiscing. "Throughout the novel, it becomes increasingly clear that Allie's death was one of the most traumatic experiences of Holden's life and may play a major role in his current psychological breakdown "the cynicism with which Holden avoids expressing his feelings may result from Allie's death- (Phillips). Holden reminisces throughout the novel about how much he misses Allie and he even says to Phoebe once that Allie is the only thing that he likes. The only problem is, Allie's dead and Holden doesn't believe in the afterlife. In Chapter 21, Holden visits Allie's grave. The coincidence of Allie's memory and Holden's preoccupation of the ducks in Central Park help to explain one of the main metaphors of the novel. Holden is bothered by sudden, inexplicable disappearances. The ducks have vanished suddenly just as Allie did (Kaplan 42, Phillips). Not only does Holden miss Allie immensely, but he also appears to be envious of him. He never had to live past his childhood therefore never having to enter the hypocritical, "phony-, and painful world of maturity. .
The reader is able to see that the reason Holden clings on to Phoebe and her purity is that he wishes he were back in her state, uncorrupted by the world and his bad experiences. Until the reader meets Phoebe, all of Holden's thoughts are bleak and troubling. When Holden is around Phoebe, we see a new side of him "one that is completely capable of happiness (Downey).
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. ...
Catcher in the Rye The American Dream for family will greatly vary between people, as it should. ... 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 members of his family. ...
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 members of his family. ...
In the novel Catcher in the Rye Holden is a character that has many idealistic thoughts. ... Holden tells Phoebe about a dream of wanting to be the catcher in the rye. ... 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 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 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...
"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 Catcher in the Rye has been called one of the greatest pieces of American literature throughout the 1950's. ... I have to say that there is a possibility that The Catcher in the Rye is a bad influence on young children. ... The book The Catcher in the Rye exemplifies how difficult it can be for some teens' life. ... On the other hand, the book The Catcher in the Rye really does not go far from the boundary. ... The Catcher in the Rye is a classic book that has been read in high schools all across the world. ...
