Theme Of Isolation In Catcher In The Rye

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J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is a well-known novel worldwide and has become very popular with adolescent readers. Teenagers are able to relate to the many themes discovered throughout the novel such as depression, teenage confusion, rebellion and loneliness. The main character, Holden Caulfield, is what makes the book so interesting. He is a 16 year-old lonely New-Yorker who protects himself from the adult world with alienation and negativity. American novelist, William Faulkner, states, "When Holden attempted to enter the human race, there was no human race there." I feel that this statement can sum up the whole novel because it explains that Holden desperately tries to fit in, but cannot escape his isolation that he has created. Holden

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Catcher In The Rye Isolation Theme

In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, he explains major themes in his work by telling them through Holden, a sixteen year old boy and his views on his society. The first three chapters hold three major themes shown throughout the whole book; Isolation, Sexual Identity/ Drive, and Adulthood. Isolation was one of the biggest themes in Salinger’s novel; almost every chapter had some aspect of him being alone. The first account of being isolated is on page 24 “It was pretty nice to get…

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Growing Up In Catcher In The Rye

Growing up in Catcher in The Rye The inevitable change from childhood to adolescence in one’s life is a time of confusion and stress, and can often lead to an empty feeling of helplessness. This idea is heavily discussed upon in J.D Salinger's novel, The Catcher in The Rye, which is primarily focused on the theme that growing up in the twentieth century can be frightening due to the explicit exposure to the adult world, and can result in one becoming introverted as a method of self protection…

Words 1724 - Pages 7

Essay on Modern Works

Many works of literature focus on easily relatable issues. That is, common themes which every person can understand. Such works often connect to their readers on a much deeper level, and the lasting impressions can turn a novel into a piece of art, a masterpiece. To construct such a powerful message, the author must weave his theme into a relatively comprehendible story; however to generalize the story too much creates a bland, spineless piece of junk. These awfully boring books are usually eaten…

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Explore how the theme of rejection is presented in Twain Essay

Explore how the theme of rejection is presented in Twain’s ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ and Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. The theme of rejection is shown throughout both novels and their protagonists. Twain and Salinger explore various different ideas of rejection in the extracts I have chosen, and both characters experience the rejection from internal conflict and isolation as they develop. The extract from ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ is from the start of the book where…

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Innocence In Catcher In The Rye

In the story The Catcher in The Rye there are a variety of themes that pertain in this novel such as isolation, death, sexuality, and etc. In my opinion the theme of innocence is a key and important piece of the novel. Innocence is an important theme because that’s all Holden wanted to keep and save others child innocence. He would try to keep to the point of thinking of running away just to stay a kid. When he sees child innocence, he would defend it, he would be happy for it at all cost. An example…

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An Analysis of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger Essay

Jordan Shelton 11-19-12 Paidea Preperation the Catcher in the Rye Questions 1. I my opinion I think this novel is filled with both pessimism and optimism. The main character Holden Caulfield contains within his character both of these traits. I think that Holden holds a more pessimistic view of life in the beginning of the book where he always assumes the worst of things and doesn’t pertain a positive outlook on life. In the end of the novel, Holden finally achieves the feeling that he is…

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Catcher In The Rye Isolation Analysis

interconnected, but many people still prefer isolation. In Catcher in the Rye, Holden, the main character, alienates himself. After the death of his younger brother, he doesn't want to become too attached to someone again. Holden struggles to maintain relationships, and he hopes he never has to talk to anyone again . The author, J. D. Sallinger, wanted to be isolated and wanted to stay out of the spotlight. During Holden’s metaphorical journey, alienation and isolation are the cause of his depression.…

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Catcher In The Rye

Explore the different ways in which madness and loneliness are explained through the use of narrative voice in The Catcher in the Rye and American Psycho. Both Ellis and Salinger use first person narratives. The Catcher in the Rye was set in the late 1940s as opposed to American Psycho which is set in the late 1980s. These different contexts provide very different lifestyles and social pressures for both protagonist’s however, both writers focus on the effects of materialism and prodigality and the…

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The Theme In Catcher In The Rye

Brooks Ownby AP Literature 24 March, 2017 The Catcher and the Rye The major theme in the novel the catch and the rye is ‘alienation as a way of self-protection’. Holden, the main character, undergoes estrangement throughout the story, as he appears to distance himself from the surrounding world. He faces distressful situations that expose him to victimization and exclusion by the immediate environment. As a result, he chooses to use alienation as a shield from the harsh reality facing him in his…

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Essay about Catcher in the Rye

The novel, Catcher in the Rye, shows the ability to capture and portray a person’s most inner thoughts explicitly through the eyes of Holden Caulfield. Through the course of the novel there is a constant theme of alienation as a form of self-protection from the world. Holden conversation with Spencer in Chapter 2, “Life is a game boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.’ ’Yes Sir. I know it.’ Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it’s…

Words 654 - Pages 3