In the book catcher in the rye whats wrong with holden. Because in the book, its not hard to see his negative attitude since he always thinks everything is. His reference to charles dickens novel david copperfield is especially significant here. In addition to upholding the lower courts finding that the book s main character, mr. Although he is intelligent and sensitive, holden narrates in a cynical and jaded voice. Salingers novel the catcher in the rye, the main character, holden caufield, describes in detail the parts of his life and his environment that bother him the most. In the catcher in the rye, is the main character holden. One event, that makes this book so famous, is his misinterpretation of the poem, comin thro the rye.
But holdens rejection of the dickens novel as crap signals that holdens role as a narrator will. After sleeping for a while, holden wakes up and discovers mr. See more ideas about catcher in the rye, holden caulfield and book quotes. The catcher in the rye summary, analysis, reception. Trying to imagine holden caulfield in the catcher in the rye. Between 1961 and 1982, the catcher in the rye was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the united states. The bloom major literary characters series would be incomplete without a book on holden caulfield from j. Character examination holden caulfield is a figment of author j. One contributor to this breakdown, is the loneliness that holden experiences. He is in an unclassifiable category, and his physical traits give no clue on how to enravel this enigmatic young man. He is also the novels narrator, which means that he tells his comingofage story from his own. My feelings about holden caulfield after reading catcher. Holden is an anti hero because most of the time when you imagine the main character of a book you imagine a strong character, who is friendly and lovable.
The catcher in the rye was a book full with a lot of great imagery and a lot of thought put into it. Cares about his brother so much that he isolated himself from society and his family who put him in the mental institution. C, violated salingers over the character holden caulfield, the appeals panel rejected the argument by the author, the publisher and some allies of 60 years later that the book was a fair use of salingers work. Students should read this novel for an example of a seemingly simple book with many examples of symbolism throughout the novel. Holdens misinterpretation of the catcher in the rye. How significant a change does holden caulfield undergo. Holden desperately searches for truth among the phonies, which causes him to. He has visited psychiatrist for an unspecified complaint and he has trouble making his. Holden caulfield can be said to be truly the only character in the catcher in the rye. Salingers the catcher in the rye, holden caulfield recounts the days following his expulsion from pencey prep, a private school. There is flow in the seemingly disjointed ideas and episodes. Phoebeaccording to holden is not only the smartest kid ever, but also best dancer. Holden caulfield is depicted as a neurotic, naive adolescent who is critical of others and desperately fears becoming an adult.
Mar 11, 2019 holden caulfield is the main character of the 1950 book catcher in the rye, one of the first young adult novels to exist. The novel is written completely from his perspective, so he gets wellknown when reading it. Holden caulfield holden caulfield is the main character from the book the catcher in the rye. Thinking like a psychiatrist, this book has plenty to dissect. Check out shmoop s visual take on what its all about. Holden is a 17 year old who has been admitted into.
The guilt from the loss of this brother made holden extremely sad and guilty. While there are many aspects of holden s personality and perspective. The quote above was spoken by holden caulfield, the main character narrator of the famous 1951 novel the catcher in the rye written by the late, reclusive author j. The book is a very easy to read, it can be read very quickly and very easy to understand. Afraid to go home to his parents in new york city, he spends a few days alone in. The novel is a frame story a story within a certain fictional framework in the form of a long flashback. Some, on the other hand, have argued that the book is about his desire to. Throughout the book, holden constantly refers to people as phonies. Holden caulfield, of catcher in the rye, is the great. Holden, as the main character, also the narrator of the book has appeared to be an unreliable narrator. Holdens fear of change in the catcher in the rye 123. Holden caulfield, the 17yearold narrator and protagonist of the novel, speaks to the reader directly from a mental hospital or sanitarium in southern california. Character analysis of holden caulfield s the catcher s the rye composure.
Though holden is similar to the average teenager in many ways. One of holden s main problems in life is the death of his brother allie. After a fight with his roommate, stradlater, holden leaves. Holden also has a huge obsession with sex, even though he remains a virgin. But i have a deep affinity for holden as a literary character and think that i can answer the question. Salingers novel the catcher in the rye, the main character, holden caufield, describes in detail the parts of his life. Holden caulfield is the main character of the catcher in the rye, he is a sixteen year old guy. Essay character analysis of holden caulfield s the rye the catcher in the rye is a classic novel because of its complexity and characters that reveal certain facets of the antagonist holden caulfields character. Holden caulfield is the protagonist of the catcher in the rye.
Holden lives a pretty interesting, yet depressing, life. In the book, catcher in the rye by jd salinger, the main character holden caulfield show signs of having ptsd. Holden caulfield is the main character in the book, the catcher in the rye, j. But because it is late and holden feels extremely sleepy, holden cannot listen well to the good advice that mr. My feelings about holden caulfield after reading catcher in the rye. Holden caulfield, main character and narrator of j. The catcher in the rye character analysis of holden caufield.
The catcher in the rye character analysis of holden. Holden caulfield s joke is that he randomly shows up out of nowhere and screams at people, who fake stuff, calling them a phony. In this lesson, well learn more about holden and the three days he spent in new york city. Since the books publication, holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and is considered among the most important characters of 20thcentury american. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Holden can be described as smart or sensitive but somewhat crazy or phsyco. I think the answer is pretty subjective because when i read the book in high school american literature honors class, i found the change holden went through to be relatively unremarkable, whereas many of my classmates personally related to his e. The catcher in the rye is narrated in a subjective style from the point of view of holden caulfield, following his exact thought processes.
So, his host makes up the couch as a bed for holden. Holden caulfield is a typical antihero from the 20th century who features as the main character from the novel, catcher in the rye by j. Sallingers catcher in the rye, has been said to have many mental disorders even though he seems to be just a teenager. But holdens rejection of the dickens novel as crap signals that holdens role as a narrator will reject the trappings of the traditional comingofage story. The main character, holden caulfield, acts throughout the book in some ways that cause readers to think he may have a mental illness. Holden isms in the catcher in the rye novel answers. Holden caulfield, the main character from the catcher in the rye by j. The catcher in the rye remains a singular creation, a novel that is wholly tied to the intelligent, immature, and tortured pointofview of its main character, holden caulfield. Mar 01, 2005 the bloom major literary characters series would be incomplete without a book on holden caulfield from j.
The novels protagonist holden caulfield has become an icon for teenage rebellion. Holden reid barclay, main male character in scarlett averys book bad boy seals. One of the reasons this book has gained popularity is due to holden being able to tie emotionally with readers. Characters holden caulfield the number of readers who have been able to identify with holden and make him their hero is truly staggering. Character analysis of holden caulfield of catcher in. Holden enjoys reading books and writing, but he hates movies. He faces these problems with a kind of naivety that prevents. His personality stands out as a troublemaker mostly because of the time the book takes place. Salingers the catcher in the rye is narrated by holden caulfield, the jaded, brash, and irreverent protagonist. In some ways holden is the only character in the catcher in the rye.
Since the book s publication, holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and is considered among the most important characters of 20thcentury american literature. The catcher in the rye main character showing 8 of 38. I enjoyed reading this book due to the fact that the main character holden caulfield is a. I enjoyed reading this book due to the fact that the main character holden caulfield is a 16 year old boy growing up. Apr 30, 2020 holden caulfield is the main character of j.
Holden is failing all of his classes except english, and he often curses and smokes cigarettes in his dorm. Hes rather tall and looks more mature than he actually is. Holden is sixteen years old and has been kicked out of many prep schools for academic failure and lack of effort. Character analysis of holden caulfield essay 831 words. Salingers book the catcher in the rye is holden caulfield and he is a sixteenyearold boy who has just been expelled from a school called pencey prep. He is both an antihero, a protagonist with qualities at odds with the stereotypically heroic image, and an everyman, whose experiences are to some degree universal, at least in his respective culture. Holden caulfield holden caulfield, the main character in the famous novel the catcher in the rye, by j. Holden is the main character of the story and the narrator. Surprisingly, i was wrong most of us had never read this book. She never actually appeas in the book, but holden spent a lot of time with.
The book was published in 1951, the same time that our character is living. I have heard that the main character in this book is kind of a snob and is a brat. Holden caulfield is the main character and the narrator of the j. In the book, holden caulfield symbolizes the absurdity of the american style of life. The catcher in the rye character analysis of holden caufield in j. He serves as a recurring character on family guy, where hes become a running gag in himself.
Which book begins with the line once there were four children whose names were peter, susan, edmond, and lucy. Holden isnt the typical stereotype of a teenager that society is used to set. However, it is more interesting and more rewarding to investigate the main character of the novel. Holden is 16 years old as the central story begins, tall at 6 feet 2 12 inches. Thanks for the request, it has been 30 years since i read the catcher in the rye last time. Holden is the main character in catcher in the rye. Its teenage protagonist, holden caulfield, recounts a few days in his life, showcasing his confusion and disillusionment. What are three ways holden changes as a character in. Holden caulfield character analysis 817 words bartleby. Character analysis of holden caulfield freebooksummary. The catcher in the rye is the classic tale of holden caulfield, a 16yearold teenager who is a little lost in his life.
Holden caulfield the protagonist and narrator of the novel, holden is a sixteenyearold junior who has just been expelled for academic failure from a school called pencey prep. Salingers main character in the book the catcher in the rye, is young man on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Holden caulfield the protagonist and narrator of the novel, holden is a sixteenyearold junior who has just been expelled for academic failure from a school. In the book the catcher in the rye, the protagonist, holden caulfield is living in a school called pencey prep.
Salingers renowned comingofage novel, the catcher in the rye 1951. After he leaves, he wanders in central park until the cold drives him to his. A clue to any persons character can often be found in the books. Salinger is the infamous personification of teenage angst. Personally, i think how holden sees things effect on how he describes things. The reader can immediately see that holden is smart and well read. Essay holden caulfield is the archetypal 20th century antihero. Holden caulfield is the main character in the catcher in the rye. What did the character holden caulfield read in the novel. Since holden is both the main character and the narrator of the novel, everything the audience learns is filtered through holdens consciousness.
We cant make up our mind between feeling sorry for him and telling him to just. Salingers most wellknown novel catcher in the rye, has got to be one of my favorite characters in a book yet he kills me. Holden caulfields joke is that he randomly shows up out of nowhere and screams at people, who fake stuff, calling them a phony. Holden caulfield is the main character of the book the catcher in the rye. Like the catcher in the rye, david copperfield is a comingofage novel whose protagonist also acts as the firstperson narrator. Salinger, american writer whose novel the catcher in the rye 1951 won. In the book, holden caulfield is a sixteenyearold boy who has recently been expelled from his prep school.
He is a teenager who is going through the stage of finding his identity, and his place in society. In the lord of the rings, what is the name of the inn in bree. There are many times in the book that show how obsessed holden is with sex. Hes had to deal with some pretty tough things which makes him desperate to try and stay young, keeping himself immature and emotionally fragile. The real reason why holden caulfield catcher in reddit. Salingers catcher in the rye holden, character in james pattersons maximum ride holden mcneil, character in chasing amy holden snyder, character on american soap opera as the world turns holden strauss. In salingers the catcher in the rye, holden is a normal teenager whos gone through some emotionally jarring things and he shows this through his immaturity and inability to. Holden desperately searches for truth among the phonies, which causes him to become increasingly unstable emotionally. The catcher in the rye is a classic novel about an eventful week of holden caulfield. Character analysis of holden caulfield s the rye cram. Holden is caring but cold, timid yet bold, passive but aggressive. Holden is expelled several times, and in general, he behaves like a rebellious teenager. Mar, 2016 i think the answer is pretty subjective because when i read the book in high school american literature honors class, i found the change holden went through to be relatively unremarkable, whereas many of my classmates personally related to his e.
He seems and this is why his character can be so addictive to have. His role is surrounded by 2 main themes that serve as his inner conflicts. The catcher in the rye was written in 1951, and it has been a highly influential and controversial book ever since. However, the story is being told by holden after the fact.
The catcher is included in time magazines 100 best englishlanguage novels, and was also named one of the 100 best novels of the 20 th century by modern library. Something about his discontent, and his vivid way of expressing it, makes him resonate powerfully with readers who come from backgrounds completely different from his. Diagnosing holden caulfield, sample of school works. Asked in literature classics, the catcher in the rye. Holden caulfield, 16 years old, is the main character and narrator in j. In the kiss seen around the world, peter finds a selfplaying piano at the dollar store and. Essay on character analysis of holden caulfield in the. D salingers imagination, holden is the exception to all rules, and the rule to all exceptions. Holden is by far the most complex character in the book.
Holden caulfield the protagonist and narrator of the novel, holden is a sixteen yearold junior who has just been expelled for academic failure from a school. Analysis of holden caulfield s the catcher s the rye cram. In fact, i thought holden caulfield was a very interesting character. Holden caulfield, of catcher in the rye, is the great literary antihero. Holden caulfield is the main character and narrator of the novel the catcher in the rye, written by j. I think disliking the main character is a bit of the point of the book. Holden caulfield, fictional character, the teenaged protagonist and narrator of j. The death of allie lead to holden s suffering from ptsd. In fact, you could even argue that salinger made holden too emotionally maturethat a real sixteenyearold would never have this level of wisdom, even if he thought he did. Holden caulfield, the 17yearold narrator and protagonist of the novel, speaks to. Salinger, the main character, holden caulfield, has strange tendencies that could be diagnosed as a mental disorder or multiple disorders. In a taxicab, holden inquires with the driver whether the ducks in the central park lagoon migrate during winter, a subject he brings up often, but the. Holden caulfield is the main character in which book.
The real reason why holden caulfield catcher in books. Holden morrisey caulfield is a fictional character in author j. If nothing else, we can all at least agree that holden caulfield is still though. His american lawyer, edward rosenthal, called the book a critique that describes an aged holden caulfield in the persona of a character called mr. Since the books publication, holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and is considered among the most important characters of 20thcentury american literature. Holden caulfield is the main character, and the story follows him through three days and nights in new york city after leaving pency prep. In which book would one find the childlike human species named. A sensitive, rebellious 16yearold, caulfield is expelled from prep school. Salinger the main character holden caulfield is sent to a mental institution due to the emotional devastation his brother, allie s, death had caused him. This book includes a series of essays, analysis and comparison to other major character like mark twains huck finn and nick adams.
498 754 64 336 862 622 148 125 536 374 591 1040 1475 232 940 23 1522 241 1188 557 1341 616 557 1247 1510 942 919 124 590 304 134 364 692 746 1448 1350 1271 642 993 1488 35 112 518 696 1409 1146