catcher in the rye

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye 11

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

By J. D. SalingerBy J. D. Salinger


OverviewOverview

The PlotThe Plot The CharactersThe Characters The ThemesThe Themes The MotifsThe Motifs The SymbolsThe Symbols The AuthorThe Author


The PlotThe Plot

Holden Caulfield, the narrator, begins the novel Holden Caulfield, the narrator, begins the novel with an authoritative statement claiming that “he with an authoritative statement claiming that “he does not intend for the novel to serve as his life does not intend for the novel to serve as his life story.” Currently in psychiatric care, this story.” Currently in psychiatric care, this teenager recalls what happened to him last teenager recalls what happened to him last Christmas. Christmas.


The CharactersThe Characters

Holden CaulfieldHolden Caulfield Phoebe Caulfield- Holden’s younger sister (10 years old)Phoebe Caulfield- Holden’s younger sister (10 years old) Allie Caulfield- Holden’s younger brother that died from Allie Caulfield- Holden’s younger brother that died from

leukemialeukemia Mr. Spencer- Holden’s history teacherMr. Spencer- Holden’s history teacher Mr. Antolini- Holden’s former English teacherMr. Antolini- Holden’s former English teacher Ackley- Holden’s next door neighbor at Pency Prep Ackley- Holden’s next door neighbor at Pency Prep

SchoolSchool


The SymbolsThe SymbolsTHE CATCHER IN THE RYETHE CATCHER IN THE RYE

In Chapter 22, when Phoebe asks Holden what he In Chapter 22, when Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to do with his life, he replies with his image, wants to do with his life, he replies with his image, from the song, of a “catcher in the rye.” Holden from the song, of a “catcher in the rye.” Holden imagines a field of rye perched high on a cliff, full of imagines a field of rye perched high on a cliff, full of children romping and playing. He says he would like to children romping and playing. He says he would like to protect the children from falling off the edge of the cliff protect the children from falling off the edge of the cliff by “catching” them if they were on the verge of by “catching” them if they were on the verge of tumbling over.tumbling over.

(Not having to leave childhood and become an adult)(Not having to leave childhood and become an adult)


SymbolsSymbols

HOLDEN’S RED HUNTING HATHOLDEN’S RED HUNTING HAT

The red hunting hat is inseparable from our image of The red hunting hat is inseparable from our image of Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his Holden, with good reason: it is a symbol of his uniqueness and individuality. uniqueness and individuality.

The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires The hat is outlandish, and it shows that Holden desires to be different from everyone around him.to be different from everyone around him.


The ThemesThe Themes((the fundamental and often the fundamental and often

universal ideas explored in a universal ideas explored in a literary work)literary work)

Alienation as a Form Alienation as a Form of Self-Protectionof Self-Protection

The Painfulness of The Painfulness of Growing UpGrowing Up

The Phoniness of the The Phoniness of the Adult WorldAdult World


Alienation as a Form of Self-ProtectionAlienation as a Form of Self-Protection

Throughout the novel, Holden seems to be excluded Throughout the novel, Holden seems to be excluded from and victimized by the world around him. As he says from and victimized by the world around him. As he says to Mr. Spencer, he feels trapped on “the other side” of to Mr. Spencer, he feels trapped on “the other side” of life, and he continually attempts to find his way in a world life, and he continually attempts to find his way in a world in which he feels he doesn’t belong.in which he feels he doesn’t belong.


The Painfulness of Growing UpThe Painfulness of Growing Up

According to most analyses, According to most analyses, The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye is a is a bildungsromanbildungsroman, , a novel about a young character’s a novel about a young character’s growth into maturity. While it is appropriate to discuss growth into maturity. While it is appropriate to discuss the novel in such terms, Holden Caulfield is an unusual the novel in such terms, Holden Caulfield is an unusual protagonist for a bildungsroman because his central goal protagonist for a bildungsroman because his central goal is to resist the process of maturity itself. is to resist the process of maturity itself.


The Phoniness of the Adult WorldThe Phoniness of the Adult World

““Phoniness,” which is probably the most famous phrase Phoniness,” which is probably the most famous phrase from from The Catcher in the Rye,The Catcher in the Rye, is one of Holden’s favorite is one of Holden’s favorite concepts. It is his catch-all for describing the concepts. It is his catch-all for describing the superficiality, hypocrisy, pretension, and shallowness superficiality, hypocrisy, pretension, and shallowness that he encounters in the world around him. that he encounters in the world around him.

Phoniness, for Holden, stands as an emblem of Phoniness, for Holden, stands as an emblem of everything that’s wrong in the world around him and everything that’s wrong in the world around him and provides an excuse for him to withdraw into his cynical provides an excuse for him to withdraw into his cynical isolation.isolation.


Motifs (reoccurring theme)Motifs (reoccurring theme)

LonelinessLoneliness

Relationships, Relationships, Intimacy, and Intimacy, and SexualitySexuality

Lying and DeceptionLying and Deception


LonelinessLoneliness

Holden’s loneliness, a more concrete manifestation of his Holden’s loneliness, a more concrete manifestation of his alienation problem, is a driving force throughout the alienation problem, is a driving force throughout the book. Most of the novel describes his almost manic book. Most of the novel describes his almost manic quest for companionship as he flits from one quest for companionship as he flits from one meaningless encounter to another.meaningless encounter to another.


Relationships, Intimacy, and SexualityRelationships, Intimacy, and Sexuality

Relationships, intimacy, and sexuality are also recurring Relationships, intimacy, and sexuality are also recurring motifs relating to the larger theme of alienation. Both motifs relating to the larger theme of alienation. Both physical and emotional relationships offer Holden physical and emotional relationships offer Holden opportunity to break out of his isolated shell. They also opportunity to break out of his isolated shell. They also represent what he fears most about the adult world: represent what he fears most about the adult world: complexity, unpredictability, and potential for conflict and complexity, unpredictability, and potential for conflict and

change.change.


Lying and DeceptionLying and Deception

Lying and deception are the most obvious and hurtful Lying and deception are the most obvious and hurtful elements of the larger category of phoniness. Holden’s elements of the larger category of phoniness. Holden’s definition of phoniness relies mostly on a kind of self-definition of phoniness relies mostly on a kind of self-deception: he seems to reserve the most scorn for deception: he seems to reserve the most scorn for people who think that they are something they are not or people who think that they are something they are not or who refuse to acknowledge their own weaknesses. But who refuse to acknowledge their own weaknesses. But lying to others is also a kind of phoninesslying to others is also a kind of phoniness. . Of course, Of course, Holden himself is guilty of both these crimes. His random Holden himself is guilty of both these crimes. His random and repeated lying highlights his own self-deceptionand repeated lying highlights his own self-deception


ReferencesReferences

www.sparknotes.comwww.sparknotes.com www.gradesavior.comwww.gradesavior.com Salinger,J.D, Catcher in the Rye. United Salinger,J.D, Catcher in the Rye. United

States, 1951. States, 1951.

catcher in the rye

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