Catcher in the Rye Essay

The story’s protagonist Holden Caulfield has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, hence why most high schools insist on students writing a Catcher in the Rye essay. The book has been translated into almost all of the world’s major languages. Around 250,000 copies are sold each year, with total sales of more than 65 million books giving plenty of research material to write a good Catcher in the Rye essay.

The novel was included on Time ‘​s 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923, and Modern Library and its readers named it as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Find out more about Catcher in the Rye essays below.

What is the main message of The Catcher in the Rye?

The author uses very little symbolism in this novel. With that being said, some parts hold particular hidden meanings behind them. One symbol is when Holden claims “the ducks” at the lagoon. He says how he liked it when they would eat out of his hand. Holden explained that there is nothing like having a ten- or twelve-year-old buck sitting there, with his muzzle right in your lap, eating out of your hands.  

Another example of symbolism is when Holden describes nuns. He tells us they looked up to him as a god-like figure because of his intelligence and talent, which is ironic since this was a boy who couldn’t hold on to a job for more than two weeks.

There were many instances where Holden reflects that anyone could completely relate to him, such as when he said, “If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late?- I don’t. The only time I’m ever rude to anyone is when they’re rude to me. And the only time I hold it against anybody is when they hold it against me first.” These are words that hold for any teen or adult.  

Another quote one would agree with was when Holden said, “All morons hate it when you call them a moron.” This is something one can relate to because there are so many judgmental people who don’t hold themselves to the same standards they hold others, and he is telling us that we should hold ourselves to the same standards we hold others.

Holden also touches on another familiar subject, peer pressure. He talked about how he could never keep up with any of the other men in his family when it came to partying and drinking, so there is no way anyone can expect him to hold down a steady job.

One of the major themes from this book is to hold on to your innocence, hold off on growing up. When Holden Caulfield talked about the letter Jane Gallagher wrote, he said something that best represents this theme. “She said she hoped I wasn’t going to be a phoney-baloney writer like so many people are and she said she knew I’d be a good writer because I was the only boy she ever knew that cared about how words were spelled.”

He goes on to say, “The thing with Holden is that he’s very, very sensitive and therefore he never really functions well. He just retreats into his private world where he feels a lot better.” This is what we’re supposed to hold on to, that childhood innocence.

The Plot of The Catcher In the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J.D Salinger published in 1951. It’s considered one of the great American novels and is seen as an essential text for understanding teenage angst

Holden Caulfield is the narrator and protagonist of this novel. He believes himself to be a unique person, but he thinks of himself as having escaped everything. He feels the way he does about the world because he sees through everyone and knows that no one will hold him to anything.

The book was published for adults but many teenagers read it due to its subject matter of teenage angst and alienation. Holden Caulfield is a teenager who uses adult language, and the book is full of themes and ideas that hold to teenagers.

It’s described as a ‘coming-of-age’ story on Holden Caulfield’s life due to him going through a massive change throughout the novel. When Holden Caulfield starts off, he is confident and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him. However, his self-assuredness falls away as the book progresses. Holden Caulfield gets progressively more downbeat and is dragged down by phonies and phoniness, which leads to a trying conclusion.

The Catcher in the Rye: How Does Internal Conflict Completely Take Over One’s Life?

Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, experiences intense internal conflict throughout his life through his experience at a prestigious boarding school and within himself. As Holden’s thoughts and emotions take over his life, he cannot identify outside of himself or hold onto any external stimuli.

Holden’s internal conflict starts with his expulsion from Pencey Prep, the prep school he has attended for three years. Holden is dismayed upon hearing of his oncoming expulsion; it begins to dawn on him that he may not be “invincible” and that there are some things in life that cannot change.

Upon his expulsion from Pencey Prep, Holden begins to see that within himself, there is a distinct difference between what he sees in others and how he views the world around him. Holden distinguishes between people who have “phoniness,” which is a concern of his because he does not want to become phony.

Holden becomes discouraged by the people has surrounded himself with at school. Holden realizes that people in his life act differently behind closed doors than they do among different groups of people.

When coming across these phonies, Holden thinks it is his responsibility to reveal their “true selves,” which he sees as “phoniness.” Holden says, “I really wasn’t so naive. I could spot somebody being phony a mile away”, showing how his perception of the world around him gives him an insight into others’ actions.

During Holden’s time in New York City, he begins to see that he is also a phony. He begins to see his actions and motives as contradictory and out of sync with his beliefs. Holden has trouble understanding the world around him, and he finds it challenging to identify with others.

He says, “people never acted like what they were,” showing how he can see through people’s actions to their true selves. Holden also struggles with the idea of having an identity and being comfortable in his skin, as he says, “I can’t even feel like a real person anymore.”

As Holden becomes more and more disillusioned with the world around him and what it represents, he further stops identifying with the people around him. As Holden goes through an internal conflict of who he wants to be, he loses sight of what makes him an individual. Holden’s only way to cope is by taking refuge in old memories and clinging to childish things like his catcher’s mitt.

Holden’s personality also changes throughout the novel. He goes from being hostile to inner-reflective and finally back to hostile again. At first, Holden exhibits hostility towards everyone around him, especially Phoebe, his little sister.

Eventually, he calms down after talking with Mr. Antolini about his problems at Pencey Prep. But, when Holden returns home from New York City after being missing for a few days, he becomes hostile again towards his family and friends.

Holden’s hostility is mostly brought on by feeling betrayed by his people. He says in Chapter 17, “I’m in this really weird mood now. I almost wish somebody would just see me so I could talk to them or something.”

In the final stages of the novel, Holden becomes more introspective. He begins to look at himself and how his actions have affected those around him. This is apparent when he spends time with Mr. Antolini’s family before leaving New York City. After spending time with them, he tells Mr. Antolini that “they’re the only ones I’d like to stay around.”

Holden becomes more observant of his surroundings and reflects on what he sees. He becomes self-aware of how various objects around him make him feel. This indicates that Holden is beginning to understand himself and his place in the world around him.

Using the Right Equipment: Outlining Your Catcher in the Rye Essay

Every student has to write some essays throughout their schooling. Students learn how to write a catcher in the rye essay outline as they progress through school. A good outline can turn a mediocre draft into an award-winning final product just by following these simple steps:

1) Read the assignment carefully; knowing what you are writing about will help you start your catcher in the rye essay.

2) Outline your ideas in the order you want to present them. Leave out any unnecessary information that does not support your thesis statement.

3) Write a conclusion summarizing what you have said and add more if necessary.

4) Proofread your Catcher in the Rye essay for grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes. Spend some time reviewing it, checking what you have written for spelling errors. You can professional proofreading services at galaxygrades.com if you want an expert to check your work.

5) Edit your catcher in the rye essay to ensure it flows smoothly.

6) Write another draft if you feel the draft you are working on is not up to your expectations.

7) Submit or turn in your work when done!

How to Write a character analysis about a boy named Holden Caulfield

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s character is developed. Throughout the novel, he is trying to define what is going on around him and who he is as a person while keeping his innocence.

“I feel sorry for people,” said Holden (Salinger). This quote perfectly describes how Holden feels about the adult world. He doesn’t want to become a part of it, but at the same time, he has no choice because he is an adult now.

Holden’s character growth throughout the novel is gradual and steady, however, there are slight disagreements with his development due to him saying that “he was still confused” (Salinger). This can be argued because Holden is constantly trying to figure out who he is and what his morals are rather than being confused.

The Catcher in the Rye book was written in 1951. During this period, divorced parents were not very common, which makes sense why Holden has difficulty with it. It’s hard for him to get along with his new guardian.

Holden’s character is relatable because he has no idea what to do with himself. He is also confused about how the adult world works, which makes sense because he is only sixteen years old, so being an adult wouldn’t be something he would have any experience with at this point.

Holden’s character development can be linked back to when he was in the cab with the older man he shared a dialogue with. “I’m not that much younger than you are,” said young Holden (Salinger). Holden begins to realize that no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. He realizes that his view of how adults are supposed to act is wrong because he states that “he’s just as mixed up as I am” (Salinger).

Why is The Catcher in the Rye a banned book?

The Catcher in the Rye is a controversial novel that has been banned from several schools and colleges. The main reason for the banning of Catcher in the Rye is its content dealing with teenage sexual encounters, drug use, and vulgar language. It also contains an offensive word used as an expletive which could be seen as blasphemous.

Since its initial publishing, the novel has received much praise and acclaim selling over 65 million copies worldwide. It is regarded as one of the greatest books in history and even called “quintessential” by The Atlantic. Since the book’s banning, there have also been many unsuccessful attempts at censoring it or making it less available to the public.

Catcher in the Rye Essays and Papers

You may encounter some difficulties when writing a good Catcher in the Rye essay, which could sometimes be challenging, especially if you haven’t understood the book. Samples of Catcher in the Rye essays and papers can be found online to help you out and give you some ideas on how to proceed.

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