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catcher in the rye context

Holden despises the arrogant and superior mentality adopted by people he interacts with and as a result of this continual inner rebellion Holden is greatly ostracized and Alienated due to the society in which he lives. In the time period in which "Catcher in the rye" is set despite evident rebellious movements by a minority of teenagers these people were faced with social reprimand and alienation. A stated America in the 1950's was a conservative society and .
             People whose beliefs differed from the norm were often denounced as un-American or "communist sympathizers" as it was the beginning of the cold war. After taking into consideration the prejudice and ostracism a person faced when expressing different views to that of their surroundings the reader is able to better understand the way Holden felt in regards to a world he felt he was a stranger to. Therefore the historical context is essential to the understanding of the novel in that by understanding the different values of society in the 1950's we now that there was no room for individuality and any form of rebellion was met with fear and Alienation.
             The Age of Holden Caulfield in the novel is relevant in that we are able to better understand his perceptions of his surroundings. As a teenager Holden lacks the love and affection from his parents that every teenager should experience, thus creating an inner insecurity. As Holden spends the majority of his teenage life without the presence of his family, he becomes independent at an early age, which in turn has significant effects on the way he perceives the world. Holden at the complicated age of sixteen begins to show signs of the complexities associated with an inner conflict that he battles when he refuses to let go of hid childhood ideologies and wants to remain a child, one of the few things he discerns as not "phony". This inner battle that torments Holden is that of childhood versus Adulthood.


Essays Related to catcher in the rye context

1. The Madness of Holden Caulfield

... who have feelings for each other make him feel otherwise. Holden's madness throughout the novel is easily justified reasonable, especially in the context of the novel's publication. J.D. Salinger published The Catcher In The Rye in a state of post-war flux. This "madness" to the audience is seen as reasonable to everybody that read this during the time of the publication, which is why Holden's behavior is justified as normal during that period ... of time. Holden finally came to the consensus that he would move out West by ... ...

  • Word Count: 817
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Catcher In Elsinore: Hamlet [2000] An Analysis

... cogent with the prevailing themes of the film, the context of the ghost's appearance is moved from the balcony to the modern setting of the lift, observed, in one of the many uses of surveillance cameras, remotely by a security guard. This alteration of order and setting maintains the concept that the Ghost has walked the halls in search of young Hamlet (the elevator being extremely close to Hamlet's apartment). The second ghost scene remains in the original position ... to create a new product (much like much other American culture and this film in particular.) This Hamlet is typically...

  • Word Count: 2290
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Symbolisim in The Catcher in the Rye

... them. What they represent to someone can only result in a temporary change, but also a lasting effect. In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses the symbol of the Little Shirley Beans record to reveal that the loss of one's innocence gives one a newfound sense of reality. This revelation develops from the record's underlying message, the event of the record breaking, and Phoebe's handling of the record. Holden becomes more aware of reality because of ... and intently analyzes it. He is fascinated by the singer, Estelle Fletcher, and explains,"If a white girl was singing it, she'd ma...

  • Word Count: 1246
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

4. catcherin/brightlightsbigcity

... , McInerney uses the Narrator's Ray-Ban sunglasses in the same way Salinger uses Holden's hunting hat; as a symbol of protection from the outside world. Also, McInerney uses mummies in a museum the same way Salinger does; to symbolize the need of stability and structure in their character's lives. One may even go as far as to describe Bright Lights, Big City as simply a Catcher in the Rye story set in the 1980's cocaine context. Although this ... may be a stretch, nobody can deny the resemblance of the personalities of the Narrator and Holden, and the similarity of maturation they underg...

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

5. Great Literature - Relationships and Pain

German writer Franz Kafka's and American J.D. Salinger's respective masterpieces, The Metamorphosis (1915) and The Catcher in the Rye (1951), examine the universal themes of personal relationships within the context of painful change. Each did that in his own way: Kafka portrayed familial support and sympathy as necessary to the alleviation of pain, while Salinger suggested that to truly grow up is to come to terms with one's ... relationships and ultimately one's role in society. Though the importance of ... sort of a nasty guy. [Holden] wasn't too crazy about him" (19). Holden's disparagin...

  • Word Count: 1076
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Free Speech

... censorship. Many banned books are literary classics, such as The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, which was listed as the number 6 most challenged or banned book in a list compiled by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) in 1997. (The Controversy Around Banning Books) This book has been banned from school libraries all over the country because of the main character's teenage angst, which many feel is too ... some evil to overcome. In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (ranking number 2 on the list), the word nigger is used to describe African Americans. The book was publi...

  • Word Count: 2745
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Chasing Amy

... from Mallrats (also played by Adams) have all slept with the character Rick Derris. Mike Allred (creator of the comic book MADMAN) did the comic's artwork in the film, Laura Allred, Joe Quesada, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Kirk Van Wormer. The character names Holden and Banky come from J.D. Salinger's novel THE CATCHER IN THE RYE. The name Hooper is a reference to a character in JAWS; the scene in which Banky and Alyssa compare scars is also a JAWS ... on other connected issues about sexuality as well. We see some of the stereotypical definitions disregarded in this movie such as the "accepted...

  • Word Count: 2238
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography

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