Catcher In The Rye Symbolism Essay - 713 Words

In our broken and sinful world, there are many repercussions of anxiety and fear which lead to the ultimate idea that 19 million American adults suffer from cases of severe depression. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of Catcher in the Rye, suffers depression, which leads to conflict between him and society during his junior and senior year in high school The author, J.D. Salinger, uses symbolism and imagery to portray Holden’s lack of confidence due to his disruptive and frazzled childhood. Symbolism in Catcher in the Rye shows what the characters value and how they perceive life. The ducks symbolize Holden’s curiosity as he strives to discover himself and find his motivation in the world. Holden asks Old Horwitz, â€Å" Do you happen†¦show more content†¦The death of his brother, Ally, flipped his world upside down. The author creates the image of Ally being the most intelligent person that Holden has ever met, but he â€Å"got Leukemia and died when we were up in Maine†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Salinger 43). Although this imagery paints a picture of sorrow in his life, Holden confronts death throughout the book. Holden blames this as one of his many factors of depression. Holden becomes subject to a routine and soon events in his life appear and it wrecks his world. Instead of having strength in himself he loses all confidence because he can’t find purpose or strength anywhere in the world. If he had a relationship with his parents, he could rely on them, but sadly, he would rather venture alone in his depressing personal hell. Holden’s forgetful demeanor and mindset results in multiple careless actions. On his way home from a fencing tournament he projects, â€Å"I left all the goddam foils and stuff on the subway†(Salinger 24). Holden creates a vivid picture of his forgetful life which ultimately leads to a destructive life. He becomes responsible for having no life because he will not explore any life. This is fitting because it all ties into the main cause of his self-conflict and confidence. He projects the word â€Å"left,† implying leaving all his stuff everywhere, creating an image of disorganization. Holden has many opportunities in his life to turn hisShow MoreRelated Symbolism in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye Essay2842 Words   |  12 PagesJ.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is no exception. The abundant use of symbolism in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is of such significance that it â€Å"proclaims itself in the very title of the novel† (Trowbridge par. 1). If the symbolism in this novel is studied closely, there should be no astonishment in learning that The Catcher in the Rye took approximately ten years to write and was originally twice its present length. J.D. Salinger uses copious amounts of symbolism in his novel to accuratelyRead MoreSymbolism In Catcher In The Rye712 Words   |  3 PagesCatcher in the Rye essay Essay question: Analyse how symbolism was used to develop the key ideas in the written text. In the novel â€Å"Catcher in the Rye†, author J.D Salinger uses symbolism to create and portray key idea to us as the readers. The key ideas he portrays are; Holden Caulfield is the guardian of youth and that Holden is a broken record that no one wants to listen to. Throughout the novel, author J.D Salinger often mentions a red hunting hat worn by Holden and the way in which HoldenRead MoreA Short Biography of J.D. Salinger1316 Words   |  6 Pages He was sent to military school. He started to attend Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania in 1934. While he was there, he worked on the newspaper and yearbook for the school. Jerome David graduated there in 1936. (â€Å"J. D. Salinger Essay – Salinger, J. D. – eNotes.com†) Jerome David Salinger enrolled at New York University shortly in 1937. He achieved unsatisfactory mid-term grades there through his second semester. He never really had decent grades though. He dropped out of theRead MoreRomantic Essay, The Streetcar Named Desire: The Catcher In The Juliet1899 Words   |  8 Pagesof my portfolio are the Catcher in the Rye essay, the American rebels powerpoint, the Streetcar Named Desire essay and the Catcher In The Rye fishbowl. I chose to include the Catcher in the Rye essay because it showcased my ability to explain in detail quotes from the book and expand on one idea. I also chose this essay because I got an 82% which I believe is a good grade for a hard essay topic such as the symbolism of the ducks. In addition, I chose the Catcher In The Rye fishbowl because it showedRead MoreJ.D. Salingers Catcher In The Rye and Burr Steers Igby Goes Down1493 Words   |  6 Pages Comparative Essay The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger and Igby Goes Down by Burr Steers are both displayed as rites of passage texts. The respective protagonists of these two texts are Igby Slocumb and Holden Caulfield. These two characters are both on a journey motif, a journey of self discovery in which they both attempt to find meaning in life and understand societies values and attitudes. The two protagonists demonstrate non-conformity and rebel against the apparent hypocrisy present inRead MoreComparative Essay - Catcher in the Rye vs. Igby Goes Down1552 Words   |  7 PagesComparative Essay The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger and Igby Goes Down by Burr Steers are both displayed as rites of passage texts. The respective protagonists of these two texts are Igby Slocumb and Holden Caulfield. These two characters are both on a journey motif, a journey of self discovery in which they both attempt to find meaning in life and understand societies values and attitudes. The two protagonists demonstrate non-conformity and rebel against the apparent hypocrisy present inRead MoreHolden Caulfield s The Catcher Of The Rye824 Words   |  4 PagesThe Catcher in the Rye Symbolism Essay J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, is the story of Holden Caulfield’s loss of faith in society, and in particular adults. Salinger uses a number of symbols to demonstrate Holden’s rebellion against the phony facade of society and his desire to preserve the innocence of children, especially those he loves. Chief among them is Holden’s misinterpretation of Robert Burns’ poem â€Å"Comin thro’ the Rye†, wherein Holden mistakes the original line, â€Å"If a body meet aRead MoreComparison and Contrast of a Separate Peace and Catcher in the Rye1515 Words   |  7 PagesComparison and Contrast Essay A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye The coming of age novels, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, and A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, both interpret the lives of adolescent boys journeying through their conflicts and inner confusion to reach the level of maturity. Salinger and Knowles both discern the literal ways a typical teenager grows up with the help of literary elements such as plot, setting, character development, conflictsRead MoreThe First Person Narrator in J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye1097 Words   |  5 PagesIn J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the first person narration played a critical role in helping the reader to know and understand the main character, Holden Caulfield. Salinger also uses symbolism to help portray the theme that not everything that glitters is gold. Holden, in his narration, relates a flashback of a significant period of his life, three days and nights on his own in New York City. Through his narration, Holden discloses to the rea der his innermost thoughts and also helps toRead MoreReview Of The Catcher Rye And Huckleberry Finn 1497 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish Combined Coursework: Comparative Essay The theme of rejection is highly predominant in both The Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Finn. Both plotlines constantly intertwine with the concept of dismissal from peers, family and society. Despite being set in eras nearing a century apart; these novels perfectly encapsulate conflicts within their cultures. Huckleberry Finn is set in the 1840’s – a time when slavery was still yet to be abolished in America’s southern states. Throughout the