Approximately1in5youthaged13–18,experiencesaseverementaldisorderatsomepointduring theirlife.Itishardformentallyhealthypeopletoknowwhatitfeelslikegettingflashbacksofthe thingsyoudon'twanttorememberItishardformentallyhealthypeopletoknowwhatitfeelslike toletgoofthepastbutthepastcontinuestoholdontoyou.Itishardformentallyhealthypeopleto knowwhatitfeelsliketobeinsideabodythatwantsyoutolive,butwithamindthatwantsyouto die.Peoplewithmentalillnessesgothroughtheseexperiencesandeverydaythey'restuckwiththeir illnessandforsomeofthesepeople,itnevergoesaway.ThemaincharacterofCatcherintheRye byJDSalinger,isarealisticshowmorecontent
Forinstance,beinginasevereautomobileaccident,participatinginmilitarycombat,witnessinga homicideorsuicide,experiencingsexualorphysicalassault,andrelentlesssocietaloppressionare includedamongthelonglistofprecipitants(pg106–128)JDSalinger,unlikehissociety, understoodthattraumacamefromamultitudeofdifferentexperiencesandinTheCatcherinthe RyeSalingerexploresthisthroughHolden.ThewaythatSalingerexplorePTSDthroughHoldenis bygivingHoldensymptomsofPTSDthroughrealisticmeansofgettingPTSD.HoldenCaulfield getsPTSDwhenhisbrotherdiesofLeukemia,thereaderknowshehasPTSDbecausehetriesto relivehispastwithAllietryingtofixhismistakes,byhallucinatingAllie(pg53)Thereaderalso knowsthatHoldenisveryworriedandgetsnervoussweatswhenMr.Antoliniinnocentlystrokes Holden'sheadanddescribestheentireexperienceveryintenseduringhisstaywithMr.Antolini, whenthere'snoindicationthestrokeontheheadisinanywaysexual.Holdenexperienceseven moresymptomsofPTSDsuchasirritablebehaviorandangryoutbursts,Recklessorself–destructivebehavior,ProblemswithconcentrationSleepdisturbance(eg,difficultyfallingor stayingasleeporrestlesssleep).feelingsofdetachmentorestrangementfromothersandavoidance oforeffortstoavoiddistressingmemories,thoughts,orfeelingsaboutorcloselyassociatedwiththe traumaticevent(s)
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FromtheOutside,LookingIn
DespitethedebatethatmaywageonregardingthestatustobeaffordedJ.D.Salinger'swritings,the author'sbookshavenotquietlyfadedintoobscurity.Althoughpublishedalmostahalf–centuryago, theauthor'smostfamouswork,CatcherintheRye,enjoysalmostashealthyanddevoteda followingtodayasthebookdidwhenitwasfirstpublishedBecauseofaself–imposedexilethat beganalmostatthesametimetheSalinger'scareerwasjusttakingoff,muchofthesubstanceofthe writer'slifehisthoughts,ideals,writingobjectivesremainshroudedinmystery.Thefewwritings Salingerdidofferupforpublicconsumption,though,providehisaudiencecrypticcluesintohis innermostthoughtsand...showmorecontent...
Perhapsthereasontheauthorhasbecomesucharecluseisbecauseitisonlybywithdrawingfrom societythatSalingerhasbeenabletoresolvehispersonalconflictswiththeworkingsandobjectives ofthesocietyinwhichhelives.Takereligionforexample.Ifhiswritingstrulydooffersome insightintotheprivatethoughtsandbeliefsoftheauthor,JDSalingerisaGod–fearingmanwho hastheutmostrespectforhisCreator.ItisnotthereverenceofadivinebeingthatcausesSalinger difficulty;itisthemind–numbingcustomsandpracticesthatcauseparishionerstolosefocusonthe basicreasontheyengageinreligiousworshipthatcompelsthewritertospeakout.Theformal practiceofreligionattimesplacesagreateremphasisonconformancewithritualsthanitdoeson fosteringabetterunderstandingandappreciationofthebasicnotionsuponwhichareligionisbased InSalinger'smind,somereligiouspracticeshaverunsofarafieldoftheoriginalpremiseupon whichthereligionwasbasedthathequestionswhetherthecustomstodaycanevenlooselybetied toactualreligiousworshipSalinger'smostnoteworthycharacter,HoldenCaulfield,struggleswith howsocietyhaslostsightofthefoundationsuponwhichChristianitywasorganized.Thesettingfor Salinger'snovel,CatcherintheRye,istheChristmasseasoninNewYorkCity.Christmasthetime–honoredtraditionbywhichChristianspausetoreflectonthebirthoftheir
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Totellyouthetruth,thenovelTheCatcherintheRyebyJ.D.Salingerisonesonuvabitchthatcan changeyougoddamnlife.ThenovelbeginsbyHoldentalkingabouthislifeandbackground. Holdentellsusthereaderabouttheeventsthattookplacewithinafewdays.FromleavingPencey Preptonearlysleepingwithahooker,Holdenexpresseshimselfunlikemostpeople.Theauthor, "JDSalingerisahighlyregardedAmericanauthorwhosemostfamouswork,TheCatcherinthe Rye,hassoldoversixty–fivemillioncopies.Inadditiontobeingknownforhiswork,Salingerwas alsoknownforhisreclusivebehaviour".Salinger'sreclusivebehaviourwouldhavehelpedhimwrite TheCatcherintheRyebecauseitgavehimmoretimetowriteandthinkaboutcreationofThe CatcherintheRye."WhenJ.D.SalingerpublishedTheCatcherinthe...showmorecontent... Onesymbolthatstandsoutisthegraffiti."Somebody'dwritten'FuckYou'onthewall.Itdroveme damnnearcrazy.IthoughthowPhoebeandalltheotherkidswouldseeit,andhowthey'dwonder whatthehellitmeant"(Salinger,201).Holdenisshowingsignsofconcernbecausetheprofanityon thewallmighttakeawaythechild'sinnocenceFurthermore,Holdenbelievesthatthekidswillgrow upasphoniesbecauseofthe'FuckYou'onthewall.Themuseumsymbolizesinnocenceasit remindsHoldenofhisyouth."Certainthingstheyshouldstaythewaytheyare.Yououghttobe abletosticktheminoneofthosebigglasscasesandjustleavethemalone.Iknowit'simpossible, butit'stoobad(Salinger,122).Holdennotifiestousthathewisheshecanputchildreninaglass casetopreservetheirinnocenceAnexampleofthisiswithJaneShehasaonenightstandwith StradlaterwhichgetsHoldenupsetduetoherlosingherinnocence.Herememberedherwhenshe wasyoungandinnocentbutthatalleventually
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Thesis:InCatcherintheRye,SalingerusessymbolstorepresentHolden'slife,goalsandstruggles, thenconnectsthemtogethertorevealmajorthemesofisolation,loneliness,preservinginnocence, andchangeBodyParagraph1:TopicSentence:ThecatcherintheryerepresentsHolden'sdesireto protectinnocence.Example:"AnywayIkeeppicturingalltheselittlekidsplayingsomegameinthis bigfieldofryeandall.Thousandsoflittlekids,andnobody'saround–nobodybig,imean,except meAndI'mstandingontheedgeofsomecrazycliffWhatIhavetodo,Ihavetocatcheverybody iftheystarttogooverthecliff–Imeanifthey'rerunningandtheydon'tlookwherethey'regoingI havetocomeoutfromsomewhereandcatch...showmorecontent...
Example:"Iwasthinkingaboutthelagoon...IwaswonderingifitwouldbefrozenoverwhenIgot home,andifitwas,wheretheduckswentwhenthelagoongotallicyandfrozenover.Iwonderedif someguycameinatruckandtookthemawaytooazooorsomethingandtheyjustflewaway"(13)
Analysis:TheducksarefirstmentionedwhenHoldenisatMr.Spencer'shouse.WhenMr.Spencer isaskingHoldenabouthisfailureandhisfuture,Holden'smindgoesonadigressionaboutthe ducksHoldenissubconsciouslythinkingabout,andworryingabouthisfutureHedoesnot understandhowtheduckscanchangesoeasilyandadapttoachangedenvironment.Thelagoon freezingoverrepresentsHolden'slife,whichissimilartoahalffrozenlakeHeisstuckinthephase betweenchildhoodandadulthood.ToHolden,theducksmeanflyingaway,andchanginghislife completely.Hedoesnotlikechangeatall,andisfascinatedbyhowtheduckscansoeasilyadaptto achangingenvironment
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Theyfoundaquarrywearmanypeoplegetarrested.Limenisafarmboyhisfriendisacityboy. Lyminandthekidtellingthestorytellushowtheremomssetthemuptobefriends.Limintells themnottogotothequarry.Theygotothequarryanywaysevenlimen.Limenandtyleruseto fightallthetime.Theyarriveatthequarrytheyfeelaslightbreeze.Theygotcaughtbysomeone willthisturnoutbadorgood
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Theworldwarsoftheearly20thcenturyareoftenrememberedassomeofthemostinfluential eventsinhistorybecausetheyimpactedallaspectsofWesternculture,includingliterature.The postmodernistmovementaroseintheaftermathofthewar,personifiedbyextremelypessimistic outlooksonlife.Itwasadeparturefromthealreadydismalmodernistmovementwhichcameto prominenceattheturnofthecenturyJDSalingerwasadistinguishedauthorduringthistime period.Inthe1950's,hepublishedTheCatcherintheRye,possiblyoneofthemostinfluential piecesofpostmodernistliteratureeverwritten.ThenovelfollowsthelifeofteenagerHolden CaulfieldashestrugglestofindpuritysomewhereinthepostmoderneraHeseeksshowmore content...
Essentially,thewholenovelishimputtingoffontellinghisparentsthathegotkickedoutofyet anotherschool.Obviously,Caulfielddoesnotseeeyetoeyewithhisparentsonmanyissues.One oftheveryfirstthingsheadmitstothereaderisthathis"...parentswouldhaveabouttwo hemorrhagesapieceifItoldanythingprettypersonalaboutthemThey'reniceandall–I'mnot sayingthat–butthey'realsotouchy..."(Salinger1).Caulfieldmayrespectthembecausetheyare hisparents,buthehassomecontemptforthembecauseoftheirphoniness.Hisparentsnotwanting tosharetheirpersonalinformationcouldbeinterpretedasthemnotwantingtoruintheirreputations, evenifsaidinformationistrue.DespiteCaulfield'sstrainedrelationshipwithhisparents,hehas betterluckbondingwithhissiblingsHeisespeciallyclosetohisyoungersister,Phoebe,butisalso friendlywithhisolderbrother,D.B.,eventhoughhethinksheisaphonytoo.Hisotherbrother, Allie,diedwhenhewasyounger,butCaulfieldidolizeshiminhismemory.Alliewasprobablythe onlypersonthatCaulfieldtrulybelievedwasnot
TheCatcherintheRyeiswrittenbyJ.D.SalingerandpublishedJuly16,1951.Thisstoryinshortis aboutaboynamedHoldenCaulfieldinthe1950swhoisundergoingtreatmentinamentalhospital. ItbeginswithHoldenataprivateschoolnamedPenceyPrepSchoolinAgerstown,Pennsylvania. ThiswasHoldenfourthschoolashe'dbeenfailedfromthepreviousthree,alsohewassoontobe expelledfromPenceytoHoldenvisitshisoldhistorytosaygoodbyeandthathewouldnotbe returningafterthebreak.Backinhisdorm,Holden'sroommateStradlaterhadbeenonadatewith JaneGallagherwhoHoldenhassomeaffectionfor.whenquestioningStradlateraboutifhe performedcoituswithJane,StradlaterteasesHoldeninafitHoldenattacksshowmorecontent ThecallwasanattempttogethertohaveintercoursewithhimbutHoldenhungupwithoutmaking adate.HoldenwenttothelobbyashewalkedherememberedJaneGallagherandbeganto reminisceabouttheirpasttogether.Holdenleftthehotelhewasstaying,butnotbeforetheelevator operatorMauriceofferedaprostituteforfivedollarsHoldenagreed.PartwayHoldenbeginstofeel "peculiar"andaskstheprostitutetoleave,shedoes,butreturnswithMauricewhodemandedhe paysatherfiveHoldenrefusedandwaspunchedinthestomachfeelingtiredhefallsasleep.Holden wakesupandtakesacabtoCentralParktofindhislittlesisterPhoebe.Aftersomemoreuseless interactionwithpastacquaintances,HoldensneaksintohisownapartmentwherePhoebeis sleeping.Heisforcedtoadmithisexpulsiontohissisterwhogetsquiteangry.LaterHoldenspeaks tohisformerEnglishTeacherwhospeakstohimabouthisexpulsionandhisfutureaftertheirchat HoldenfallsasleepattheGrandCentralStation.WakingupsometimelaterHoldenwritesaletterto hissisterPhoebesayinghewouldbeleavinghomeforgoodandshouldmeethimatthe
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CatcherintheRyeThesisEssay
Thenovel"CatcherintheRye"byJ.D.Salingerisveryinterestingnovelinwhichthemain character,Holden,intriguesthereaderwithhisunpredictableactionsandupfrontjudgmentsofhis surroundingsHoldenalienateshimselftotryandhelpprotecthimfromtheoutsideworldand conservehisinnocence.Heconstantlyprovesthistoreadermanyintimesinthenovelby,telling charactershefeelsdifferent,wearingclothingthatmakeshimstandouteventhoughitmaymake himlookstupid,andfailingtocomethroughinrelationshipswithcharactersinthestoryThefirst timethatHoldenreallydeclarestothereaderhistendencyofalienationisduringhisconversation withMr.Spencer.Spencershowmorecontent
ThishatprovidesHoldenwithaperfectandeasywaytoalienatehimselffromsocietyandindoing so"protecthimself".Holdenallowsthereadertohypothesizethatheisattractedtoagirlnamed JaneGallagher,byconstantlytellingofhisfondmemoriesofher,butwhenpushcomestoshovehis tendencytoalienationhimselffromsociety,to"protecthimselffromlosinghisinnocence",takes himover.Onpage116ofthenovel,Holdentellsthereaderthatafterhegothissisterarecordhe wenttoaphoneboothandcalledJane'shouse.Butwhenhermotherpickedupthephonehehung up.Holdentellsthereaderthathe"didn'tfeellikegettingintoalongconversationwithhermother" sohehungupbutinrealityHolden'spersonalpreferenceofalienatinghimselffrightenedhimand preventedhimofmakinganycontactwithJane.Holden'sconstantlytellingthatheisdifferentfrom everyoneelse,whohedefinesas"phonies",wearinghishuntingcaptomakehimstandoutin society,andinabilitytomakeasocialcontactwithaJaneGallagher,whoheconstantlybringsup, arejustafewlucidexamplesofhisself–alienationofsociety.Holdenfeelsandusesthisalienation toprotecthimselffromtheharshnessofsocietyisthisconstantdefensemechanismeventuallyleads tohis
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InJ.D.Salinger'sTheCatcherInTheRye,HoldenCaulfield,aseventeen–year–oldboy,transitions fromchildhoodtoadulthood.ThedeathofHolden'slittlebrothersignifiesthebeginninghislossof innocenceandgrowthofmaturityAsheentersadulthood,Holdenviewssocietydifferentlyfrom hispeersbycharacterizingmostofhispeersandadultshemeetsas"phonies."Thus,Holdentakes theimpossiblechallengeofpreservingtheinnocenceinchildrenbecausehewantstoprevent childrenfromexperiencingthecorruptioninsocietyTheCatcherInTheRyeembodiesHolden's struggletopreservetheinnocenceofchildrenandrevealstheinevitabilityofandthenecessityof encounteringtheharshrealitiesoflife.Asachild,...showmorecontent...
AlthoughHolden"hardlyevenknow[s]"James,heseeshimassomeonewhoisrealandnotphony, admiringhisresistancetolie(Salinger171.ThedeathsofAllieandJamescauseHoldento contemplatesuicideinordertoescapetheworldofphoninesshelivesinConsequently,Holden's constantthoughtsaboutsuicideleadtohisownlossofinnocenceandadvancementtoward adulthood.Likewise,Holdenisalsoconsistentlyrejectedwhenheseekshelpfromothers.On Saturdaynight,HoldenridesthecabtoErnie'sDuringtheride,Holden"sortof[strikes]upa conversation"withHorwitz,thecabdriver,abouttheducksinCentralPark(Salinger81).Holden doesnotknowwheretogoandfeelslost,relatinghimselftotheducksduringwinterHowever, Horwitzblatantlyshowsnointerestintheducksanddivertstheconversationtothefishinthepond instead,thinkingthatwinteris"tougherforthefish"(Salinger82).Despitehiscuriosity,Holden quicklydropstheconversationafterseeingthatHorwitzisgettingfrustratedwithhimInaddition, HorwitzalsorejectsHolden'sinvitationtohaveadrink.Lateron,HoldenhiresSunny,aprostitute. AlthoughHoldenclaimstobeasexmaniac,heisstillavirgin.Thus,asSunnybeginstotakeoffher clothes,Holdenfeelspeculiarandembarrassed.HenoticesSunny'schildishhabits,suchasher "teenylittlewheeny–whinyvoice"andlackofuseofvulgarlanguage(Salinger94).Inaddition, Sunnystarts"jigglingher
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InthenovelCatcherintheRye,byJ.D.Salinger,theprotagonistprovestobequiteaself contradictingcharacter.Hismindisoftenpulledinconflictingdirectionsbytwocompellingdesires. OnecompellingforcewouldbeHolden'swishforacompanionagainsthisactionsandapproach towardspeopleandsociety.Anotherwouldbehisyearntopreserveinnocencecomparedtohis desiretofitinwithadultsBothofthesecontradictingforceswithinthemaincharacter,Holden, illuminatethemeaningofthenovelasawhole.
OnemainconflictingforceinthenovelwouldbeHolden'sdesireforcompanionshipagainsthis attitudeandbehaviortowardseveryonehemeetsMostofthenoveldescribeshissearchfor friendshipashemoves...showmorecontent...
Throughoutthewholenovel,Holdentriestoprotectthepeopleheknowsfromtherealworldand encouragethemtoholdontotheirinnocence.Hetriestoescapethefactthataschildrengrowupand maturetheyloseasenseofinnocenceandheisunabletobeartherealityofgrowingup.The charactershespeaksmostaffectionatelyaboutinthenovelarechildren,specificallyPhoebeand Allie,possiblybecausetheyarestillyoungandhaveyettoentertheadultworld.Heseeschildrenas pure,gentle,andinnocent,incontrasttoadultswhomheviewsas"phony."Holdenisterrifiedthat hewillhavetofacecomplicatedissuesvaryingfromsex,tointimacy,tofacingdeath,ashematures intoanadult.Althoughheisconstantlytryingtoremaininhischildhood,hestrivestofitinaspart ofwhatheseesastheadultworldbycreatingplanstorunawaytoacabinorworkoutWestona ranchonhisown,whichwouldrequireamatureandindependentmindset.Healsoattemptstofitin byorderingdrinksatthebar,smokingcigarettes,andattemptingtostartconversationsaboutsex withLuceHismindprovestobepullinginquitecompellingdirectionsbecausealthoughheis yearningtofitinasanadult,heisstuckontryingtopreservetheinnocenceofchildrenandsociety. Ingeneral,Holdenhasadifficulttimedealing
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"CatcherintheRye"writtenbyJ.D.Salinger,isanovelinwhichtheauthorcreatesmuchironyin thewayhepresentsthelossofinnocenceorthefallfrominnocenceinhismaincharacter,Holden Caulfield.WhileHoldenclearlybelievesinprotectingtheinnocenceofchildreninsociety,he himselfcannotseemtohangontohisowninnocence.ThroughoutthenovelHoldenshowshislove andprotectionforchildhoodinnocence,theironythatheinfacthimselfmaybelosinghisown childhoodinnocencemainlyduetotheresponsibilitieswhichhehastakenon,andalsoshowsthat hemaybemoreinnocentthanthereaderfirstthinksashissimplifiedviewofacomplexworldis muchlikeaninnocentchildwouldseeInthisnovelshowmorecontent
InthebookHoldenseemedtobeangrywithlifeandalmosteveryoneinhis,andalthoughwedont knowforsureIbelievehewasntaspessimisticbeforehisbrotherdied.Holdendidnotunderstand whyinnocentpeoplelikeAlliehadtodieandletconceitedpeoplelikeStradlaterlive.Noonewas theretocatchAllieandhefeelsthatnooneistheretocatchhimeither.
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