Catcher In The Rye Character Analysis

Maturing, Growing and Changing
The Catcher in the Rye

Sam Dunn
M. Buzminski
ENG3U
Thursday October 2, 2014

S. Dunn 1
Growth and change is one of the biggest stages in someone’s life where they truly mature and develop. In the novel the Catcher in the Rye written by J.D Salinger, the author puts the protagonist through various stages that help/force him to grow and change. These stages include firstly an emotional loss, period of awkwardness, culminating in a ‘setting forth’. Secondly a stage where the protagonist faces a journey alone which forces change. Finally the protagonist obtains self-knowledge, maturity, identity; and the values society is accepted. A bildungsroman tells about the growing up or coming of age of a
After the date goes terribly wrong, Holden realizes that he doesn’t actually like Sally and that he was just trying to force a relationship with her. Holden is searching for a connection with anyone because he has been alone for so long with no authentic relationships. He is simply reaching out, trying to find relationship to end his loneliness. While Holden visited Phoebe’s school he noticed graffiti on the wall, Holden says: “Somebody’d written “F**k you” on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy… I kept wanting to kill whoever’d written it” (Salinger 201). Holden is very upset because he doesn’t want his sister or other little kids seeing what was written. He doesn’t want little kids to lose their innocence by seeing this but he realizes when he is trying to rub it off the wall that you can’t protect kids from everything. Kids are going to grow up no matter what because it is impossible to protect kids from all the bad things in the world. Finally Phoebe is begging Holden to let her join him as he runs away. Holden says “I almost hated her. I think I hated her most because she wouldn’t be in that play anymore if she went away with me” (Salinger 207). As phoebe begs Holden if she can go with him, Holden realizes what he has done to her. Holden has begun influencing her negatively. He sees that Phoebe is willing to quit school, run away,
Holden has gone through a few stages in his life such as the emotional loss, period of awkwardness, which culminates in a ‘setting forth’. He has also been through a journey alone and finally the obtainment of self-knowledge, maturity, identity; and the values of society are accepted. These three stages all show that the Catcher in the Rye is a perfect example of a bildungsroman. Holden eventually matures throughout the novel through various situations and barriers he faces in his journey. He also eventually grows to become a better member of society and grows up to be a more active