Preview

Theme Of Religion In Catcher In The Rye

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
209 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Theme Of Religion In Catcher In The Rye
In these thoughts of Holden’s he illustrates his feelings about religion, and Jesus. Jesus is almost symbolic in this context, it almost feels as though Holden is nopt take about Jesus, but what Jesus represents: incontrol. Jesus portrays incontrol, when Holden talks about Ossenburger asking Jesus for a few more stiffs, it is evident that he is thinking about the lack of control he he is in his life, as compared to the idea of Jesus. Holden is a take charge kind of person, and dislikes the idea of letting someone take authority, even asking someone to take authority, this further more intensifies his dislike for religion. In addition to his idea of control, another reason Holden is revolted by Ossenburger and his religion is because he isn't
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And Today
    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Similarities Between Catcher In The Rye And Today

    The 21st Century is an era well known for teenagers whose parents beg them to get off their phones and people who worry about the Kardashians more than they should. The question arises as to how can a novel from the 1940’s, like “Catcher in the Rye”, still be relevant to today’s society? For instance, this book takes place during an era where people did not rely on their phones and did not even know who the Kardashians were, but believe it or not, “Catcher in the Rye” in many ways is still relevant and worth reading. There are many differences between the novel’s society and today's society, but despite the differences, there are an incredible amount of similarities between Holden and 21st century teenagers.…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Religion In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath
    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Religion In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

    The Grapes of Wrath is one of the most important novels ever written. The book documents the migration of the Joad family. With the Great Depression spreading through America, the Joads were forced to look for economic opportunities in California. Throughout the book, author John Steinbeck shares his view of personal spirituality and how it is the basis for an improved society. He presents to us a man with bold new ideas, a foreshadowing of the rough road ahead, and the all-cleansing power of disaster and hardship in this complex American classic.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Holden's Rejection Of Religion
    • 62 Words
    • 1 Page

    Holden's Rejection Of Religion

    In this chapter, He says he's "sort of an atheist," and dislikes ministers because they speak in a bogus tone of voice. Holden's rejection of society includes religion. He views ministers as actors, all of whom he considers phonies because they hide their true selves.…

    • 62 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Holden Caulfield In The Catcher In The Rye
    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Holden Caulfield In The Catcher In The Rye

    In chapter 14, Holden is seen sitting outside watching the sunrise. Holden describes himself as feeling miserable and depressed. The tone of this chapter is very dark and loathing. Holden then reveals to the reader that he talks to his deceased brother, Allie, when he is feeling depressed. Allie has been dead for three years, yet his death still heavily impacts Holden. Later on in the chapter, Holden gets ready for bed, he states that he, “felt like praying or something. But I couldn’t do it. I can’t always pray when I feel like it. In the first place, I’m sort of an atheist. I like Jesus and all, but I don’t care too much for most of the other stuff in the Bible” (Salinger 99). This quote also adds to the darkness of the chapter, Holden is looking to pray so he can have faith and hope, but cannot bring himself to complete the act. This quote also shows his weary and judgemental view on religion. Holden also smokes a heavy amount of cigarettes in this chapter, he describes the taste of the cigarettes as “lousy”, once again he cannot find an outlet to release his stress…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye
    • 219 Words
    • 1 Page

    Theme Of Maturity In Catcher In The Rye

    Salinger uses biblical parallels to depict Holden’s journey to maturity. The main concept behind Holden's maturation is saving children, not letting them fall. Initially, Holden tries to become "the catcher in the rye and all" (173). However, this attempt to protect the innocent went against what the bible argued--causing Holden to remain stuck in a cycle of immaturity. As the book progresses, Holden discloses that, “The guy [he likes] best in the Bible, next to Jesus, was that lunatic…” (99). Salinger includes this allusion to the Bible because the lunatic accurately depicts Holden’s persona--representing the immature aspect of Holden's character. Since Holden cannot live up to the idea of a christlike figure, he emulates the only other character…

    • 219 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Themes In Catcher In The Rye
    • 181 Words
    • 1 Page

    Themes In Catcher In The Rye

    The title, The Catcher in the Rye, directly indicates the reoccurring theme of the novel, to protect the innocence of the younger generations. The novel is structured on Holden’s desire to protect all the innocent children in the world from growing up because with age comes experiences that lead to corruption and the loss of innocence.…

    • 181 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Catcher In The Rye Persuasive Essay
    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Catcher In The Rye Persuasive Essay

    In chapter 3 Holden tells how he feels about the guest speaker, it reads, “He started telling us how he was never ashamed, when he was in some kind of trouble or something, to get right down on his knees and pray to God. He told us we should always pray to God - talk to Him and all - wherever we were. He told us we ought to think of Jesus as our buddy and all. He said he talked to Jesus all the time; Even when he was driving in his car. That killed me. I can just see the big phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs.” This symbolizes how people rub off on Holden. Holden tends to judge before he actually knows the full, in-depth description of the person. Rebellion for Holden is a way for him to conceal his true feelings. Holden is a teenager who hasn’t seemed to have found where he should be in life, and what his true purpose is. Holden also shows rebellion through all of the negative things he says. In chapter 12, he states, “People always clap for the wrong things.” Again, as you can see, nothing seems good…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Critical Lens Essay On Catcher In The Rye
    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Critical Lens Essay On Catcher In The Rye

    “Good people... are good because they’ve come to wisdom through failure”. This quote from William Saroyan means that wise people acquire their insight from experiences, especially unsuccessful ones. I agree with the quote and the idea of people being knowledgeable because of the hardships and journeys they had endured. The two novels Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger both support the idea of gaining wisdom through experience.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Theme Of Alienation In Catcher In The Rye
    • 103 Words
    • 1 Page

    Theme Of Alienation In Catcher In The Rye

    In today’s society, the youth struggles to find their place and identity in the world they live in. This often leads to seeking personal isolation rather than human interaction, as an attempt to free themselves from being emotionally overwhelmed. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D Salinger explores the idea of alienation through the voice of the conflicted narrator, Holden Caulfield. Holden is a profoundly troubled teenager who has completely alienated himself from the society and his surroundings. Although his voice portrays intelligence and sensitivity, Holden is hostile with the hypocrisy and “phoniness” that he observes in the world around him.…

    • 103 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Controversy In Catcher In The Rye
    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Controversy In Catcher In The Rye

    Controversy is often the source of many heated arguments. It brings about topics that people will more than likely disagree on and be able to debate with each other. The novel, The Catcher in the Rye has been a source of controversy ever since it was published. Author, J.D. Salinger incorporated multiple controversial senses into the novel, many of them having to do with the loss of innocence. Scenes such as Holden encountering a prostitute, lying to Mrs. Morrow, and attempting to erase all the f*** yous from the world, all display the controversial themes seen throughout the novel.…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Literary Analysis Essay On Catcher In The Rye
    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Literary Analysis Essay On Catcher In The Rye

    Imagine what it feels like to be a teenager. Is a teenager considerate and open minded? The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger talks about a teenager named Holden Caulfield who tells his story about a school named Pency Prep in Pennsylvania, away from his sister and parents. Throughout most of this book, Holden explains his inner thoughts regarding everyone he knows, and most of them are judgmental. Holden is considered to be a typical American teenager in this novel. First of all, teenagers like to express their thoughts. In Sylvia Plath’s article “Sylvia Plath at Seventeen”, she begins saying,“As of today I have decided to keep a diary again―just a place where I can write my thoughts and opinions when I have a moment. Somehow I…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Literary Analysis Of Catcher In The Rye
    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Literary Analysis Of Catcher In The Rye

    The genuine joy Holden gets from watching Phoebe is a striking image of his fantasies of innocence and his collapsing psyche. For a moment Holden sees the joy that he envisions all the children of his rye field are like. Within Phoebe’s happiness Holden is transfixed and distraught, because the sudden realization that he is transitioning to a world he does not feel equipped for triggers the end of his ambivalence. As the carousel spins so does Holden’s reality, he loses sense of even further sense of himself. The Catcher in the Rye is a bildungsroman, but it is unique in how Holden not only resists growing up, but also he ends the novel more unstable and lost than he started off as. A quest or journey is supposed to lead to a literal or metaphorical…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Catcher in the Rye: Life's Many Obstacles
    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Catcher in the Rye: Life's Many Obstacles

    Holden's loneliness and overall low self-esteem are the primary adolescent motivaters for his breakdown. Holden's general need for female companionship leads him to a reasonably accurate self-analysis: he thinks that he is the "biggest sex maniac you ever saw," but later admits that he really doesn't understand sex or know much about it. Holden, however, finds himself feeling rather "horny" and decides to call upon the service of Faith Cavendish. She "wasn't exactly a whore or anything but she didn't mind doing it once in a while..." Holden feels this experience will thrust him into what he considers the adult world. The conversation with Faith was a long one but inevitably led to nothing. An incursion into the adult world, or what Holden considers it to be, had been thwarted. In part, the failure happens because he doesn't really know the rules, and also because loneliness is not a substitute for experience.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Theme Of Childhood In Catcher In The Rye
    • 1574 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Theme Of Childhood In Catcher In The Rye

    Throughout the novel Holden fights to protect his innocence from the cruel society around him that is just so… phony. He hates all of society for the phony things it does, he hates sex because that may make him feel that he too is apart of the adult life, and he hates change because change is just a recipe for a child to step into the new life, the older more mature life. The one that comes with responsibilities that Holden is not ready to…

    • 1574 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Catcher In The Rye Theme Analysis
    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Catcher In The Rye Theme Analysis

    J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is about a young Holden Caulfield’s growth into maturity. Caulfield begins the novel as an inexperienced boarding school student attending Pencey Prep, a private boarding school located in Pennsylvania, who is struggling academically and socially. After getting kicked out of yet another boarding school, Caulfield travels to New York City before going home. After staying in New York for the time period between when he got kicked out and when he can return home Caulfield learns the struggles of living in the adult world. As he experiences New York, it opens his eyes to the painfulness of growing up and he wants to escape it. A major theme in this story is keeping innocence, which is portrayed through Caulfield’s theory about the catcher in the rye, his need to protect his sister, and the red hunting hat.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics