The Catcher in the Rye Holden Caulfields Coming of Age...

It takes many experiences in order for an immature child to become a responsible, well-rounded adult. In J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger’s main character Holden Caulfield matures throughout the course of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Holden is a juvenile young man. However, through his experiences, Holden is able to learn, and is finally able to become somewhat mature by the end of the novel. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s story represents a coming of age for all young adults. In the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is an immature teenager. Holden gets kicked out of his school, Pencey Prep, for failing four out of five of his classes. He says, â€Å"They kicked me out. I†¦show more content†¦But if you get on the other side, where there aren’t any hot-shots, then what’s a game about it? Nothing. No game† (8). Holden does not understand Spencer’s metaphor. Holden believes that life can only be a game if people are given advantages. From his point of view, he is one of the unlucky ones, but in reality he is on the side with the hot-shots, because he is given many advantages that others are not. Salinger emphasizes Holden’s immaturity in a very subtle way by having Holden’s authority figures always calling him â€Å"boy†. Both Mr. Spencer and Mr. Antolini call Holden â€Å"boy†. Of Spencer, Holden says, â€Å"I wished to hell he’d stop calling me ‘boy’ all the time† (12) and then later on, Antolini tells Holden, â€Å"You’re a very, very strange boy† (193). Both Mr. Spencer and Mr. Antolini recognize and acknowledge Holden’s immature behaviour in calling him â€Å"boy†. This only stresses the fact that Holden cannot seem to realize he is acting more like a child than a teenager. Holden’s red hunting hat is a very important symbol in The Catcher in the Rye. Holden uses this hat as a way to hide from society. He says, â€Å"That hat I bought had earlaps in it, and I put them on–I didn’t give a damn how I looked. Nobody was around anyway† (53). Holden thinks that wearing his red hunting hat makes him an individual, but in reality, he will only wear it when no one is around to judge him. It is his immaturity that makes him believe that he is being unique,Show MoreRelatedA Pessimistic Adolescent Is Not What Most Consider A Reliable Narrator1295 Words   |  6 Pagesbut auth or J.D. Salinger challenges this commonly held thought with his coming-of-age novel The Catcher in the Rye. The reader is introduced to Holden Caulfield, a secondary school junior that is outcasted and aimless upon expulsion from yet another preparatory school in a post-World War II world. Salinger weaves a myriad of comparisons of genuinity and disingenuousness into his work, each explored through a facet of Caulfield’s personality and experiences. The cynical sixteen-year-old strives to identifyRead More Catcher in the Rye Essay: Themes of Society and Growing Up1366 Words   |  6 PagesThemes of Society and Growing Up in The Catcher in the Rye      Ã‚   In reading J.D. Salingers novel, The Catcher in the Rye, one is compelled to have a very strong reaction to the contents of the book.   Whether that reaction is negative or positive, it is unquestionable that the reader will give the novel a second thought after reading it.   There could be many reasons why this novel has such an impact on the readers.   It may be the use of Salingers catchy slang phrases, bitingly sarcastic andRead MoreAmerican Library Association Vs. Salinger s The Catcher s The Rye 1230 Words   |  5 Pages J.D. Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye, holds the honor of appearing on â€Å"Time† magazine’s 2010 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923 (Lacayo). 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The Catcher In The Rye and Looking For AlaskaRead MoreCatcher in the Rye4413 Words   |  18 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye â€Å"Is The Catcher in the Rye, as a work of literature still relevant for today’s youth?† Name: Sara Sigurdson Course: English A1 Supervisor: Mr. Peter Steadman Word count: 3851 Candidate number: 00136022 Table of Contents Content Page Number Abstract 3 Introduction 4 The Actual Catcher in the Rye 4 The Sexual Matter 5 The Caulfield Family 6 Narrator and Protagonist 8 Role Model 9 Mr. Antolini 10 Targeted Audience 10 Guidance 12 Read MoreThe Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger2004 Words   |  9 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye is a popular novel written by J.D. Salinger. Published in 1951, the book was originally written for adults, but it is now remembered and adored by people from all parts of the world and people from all walks of life – especially by teenagers – a likely effect that was only inevitable considering the center stage of the narrator the great crumby flake Holden Caulfield, to use his style of speaking, who accurately portrayed teenage angst and loneliness in a style that many youngstersRead MoreControversial American Literature, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye1058 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most controversial American Literature books, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, went into full turbulence and had all the attention of critics everywhere during its release in 1951. Holden Caulfield, a New York City teenager in the 1950’s with man ic-depression is the protagonist, is a protagonist unlike any other in coming-of-age novels. What most critics don’t realize is that his actions are exactly those of a depressed teenager would endure: being an immature compulsive liar who isRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye and the Truman Show Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pagesexplores many ideas of identity in his book ‘The Catcher in the Rye’; these ideas include ego, expression, personality, environment and perception. The author uses many features such as first person narration to express these ideas of identity. Identity is a common theme in many works including ‘The Truman Show’ directed by Peter Weir and poem ‘Life-Cycle’ written by Bruce Dawe. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is an emotional journey of 16 year old Holden Caulfield who is struggling to recognise his identityRead MoreHoldens Attempt at Isolation in Catcher in the Rye Essay686 Words   |  3 Pagesand sting. In the coming-of-age tale Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger explores this phenomenon through the voice of the narrator, Holden Caulfield. 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