A Speech on Holden's Character in The Catcher in the Rye
Rejected, isolated, a misfit but also a unique and an independent person at the same time….yes the outsider. Hi I am Sruthi and I am going to talk about how epitomes highlight important traits of the positive and negative aspects of existence as a human being .The catcher in the rye by J.D.Salinger portrays adolescent Holden’s hatred and rebelliousness towards society which affects his transformation from childhood to adulthood. On the other hand The poem ‘Death of a Naturalist’ by Seamus Heaney vividly describes a childhood experience that precipitates a change in the boy from innocence of childhood to the fear of adulthood.
Salinger conveys that the road to adulthood from childhood is a difficult but inevitable journey. Holden’s brother’s death becomes a main reason for his alienation and disgust for adulthood. Holden’s deep sense of loss for his brother is portrayed through Symbolism. When Holden says that his hand still hurts after smashing all the windows in the garage the night that his brother died just like how his heart is broken in a non-fixable way. Another major reason for Holden not being able to make his transition is because he does not have any real friends with whom he can relate to. Even though Holden thinks that both stradlater and Ackley are phoney’s, he seeks companionship with both boys “for once in my stupid life i was happy to see him.” shows his loneliness. Throughout the novel the red hunting hat was symbolised as Holden’s safe place. When he tells his little sister that he wants to catch kids form falling of a rye of a cliff, it is metaphorical as he wants to save the innocence in kids from turning into perversion. When Holden decides to visit the museum he says it is a place where “the only thing that would be different would be you.” Thus its his shelter from the adult world. But subconsciously he realises that he has to leave the museum behind and move on thus he does not enter the museum. Another sign of him moving on to the adult
Salinger conveys that the road to adulthood from childhood is a difficult but inevitable journey. Holden’s brother’s death becomes a main reason for his alienation and disgust for adulthood. Holden’s deep sense of loss for his brother is portrayed through Symbolism. When Holden says that his hand still hurts after smashing all the windows in the garage the night that his brother died just like how his heart is broken in a non-fixable way. Another major reason for Holden not being able to make his transition is because he does not have any real friends with whom he can relate to. Even though Holden thinks that both stradlater and Ackley are phoney’s, he seeks companionship with both boys “for once in my stupid life i was happy to see him.” shows his loneliness. Throughout the novel the red hunting hat was symbolised as Holden’s safe place. When he tells his little sister that he wants to catch kids form falling of a rye of a cliff, it is metaphorical as he wants to save the innocence in kids from turning into perversion. When Holden decides to visit the museum he says it is a place where “the only thing that would be different would be you.” Thus its his shelter from the adult world. But subconsciously he realises that he has to leave the museum behind and move on thus he does not enter the museum. Another sign of him moving on to the adult