Catcher death motif
Catcher in the Rye
In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Salinger writes the story of Holden a character who narrates his story after experiencing a break down. Holden is a teenager who has recently been expelled from his school for failing his studies. He decides to leave but the isolation he faces in the school continues to escalate when he immerses in the adult world. Holden has a hard time accepting adulthood which he finds ‘phony’ and unlike the innocent and niceness of childhood. The narration Holden gives of his life highlights his conflict on how to merge the two worlds. Salinger uses motifs in the novel to deliver the theme of isolation. On of the key motif that Salinger uses is the motif of death to communicate Holden’s isolation because of his own unique experiences and thoughts. Holden’s isolation is revealed throughout the novel as the motif of death weaves itself in Holden’s narration.
At the beginning of the novel Holden begins to show his unwillingness to grow up. Even though he has been sent away from his school because of failing his exams, he does not accept the severe repercussions “They gave me frequent warnings to start applying myself- especially around mid-terms when my parents came up for a conference with old Thurmer- but I didn’t do it. So, I got the ax” (6). Salinger wants to communicate the unusual feelings that Holden displays. Here Holden is shown as not scared or regretful but rather he instead focus on his next move. He is also unable to tolerate the lecture he receives from his teacher Mr. Spencer about Holden’s future. Since Holden is not keen on an adult future he seeks an escape from that reality citing that is is just a phase “'I'm just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don't they?" (15).
Holden characterizes Spencer contrary to what the reader sees an attempt for a teacher to reach out and save Holden. In a sense Holden kills the characters only to give them his own interpretation of
In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Salinger writes the story of Holden a character who narrates his story after experiencing a break down. Holden is a teenager who has recently been expelled from his school for failing his studies. He decides to leave but the isolation he faces in the school continues to escalate when he immerses in the adult world. Holden has a hard time accepting adulthood which he finds ‘phony’ and unlike the innocent and niceness of childhood. The narration Holden gives of his life highlights his conflict on how to merge the two worlds. Salinger uses motifs in the novel to deliver the theme of isolation. On of the key motif that Salinger uses is the motif of death to communicate Holden’s isolation because of his own unique experiences and thoughts. Holden’s isolation is revealed throughout the novel as the motif of death weaves itself in Holden’s narration.
At the beginning of the novel Holden begins to show his unwillingness to grow up. Even though he has been sent away from his school because of failing his exams, he does not accept the severe repercussions “They gave me frequent warnings to start applying myself- especially around mid-terms when my parents came up for a conference with old Thurmer- but I didn’t do it. So, I got the ax” (6). Salinger wants to communicate the unusual feelings that Holden displays. Here Holden is shown as not scared or regretful but rather he instead focus on his next move. He is also unable to tolerate the lecture he receives from his teacher Mr. Spencer about Holden’s future. Since Holden is not keen on an adult future he seeks an escape from that reality citing that is is just a phase “'I'm just going through a phase right now. Everybody goes through phases and all, don't they?" (15).
Holden characterizes Spencer contrary to what the reader sees an attempt for a teacher to reach out and save Holden. In a sense Holden kills the characters only to give them his own interpretation of