essay- catcher in the rye
Angelica Davila
Mrs. Bosch
English Honors 10
30 October 2006
Rite of Passage In the Catcher In the Rye
The novel The Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger in 1951. Having
Holden Caulfield as the protagonist, facing many internal and external conflicts.
His internal conflicts, for Holden passes many challenges in which affect him
emotionally, even though he has the opportunity to change. External conflicts were
surely an important part in Holden’s character for these external conflicts forced a
change and reaction to come forth in his path. The author J.D. Salinger, clearly
presents the setting of the novel within conflicts. When it comes to Holden’s
appearance, he describes himself as a tall sixteen-year-old teenager with gray
hair. At times Holden sees his age as being an excuse for being ‘immature’, but at
times he still compares himself to a thirteen year old. At the same time as he
matures and immatures along phases, he also has a tendency to lower his intelligence
level with his low self-esteem and tendency to lie. Pencey Prepatory, the school in
which he attended to at one point cannot be one of his greatest achievements. For
he constantly informs the reader of how students as well as those around him tend to
be ‘phonies’. His brother Allie’s death had also impacted his life as well as those
around him in tremendous ways. The need to give his brother a greater importance
may also be part of the conflicts he goes through internally. At the same time
Holden finds console in his deceased brother in which he asks for his guidance in
times of despair. As if he cannot make it to a certain point in his life without
him. Making his character look immature as well as unsure of himself at times. It
is when he stumbles upon the fact that he or no one else can change what had
happened, but the memories of his younger brother will always be with him, honoring
him for his qualities every step he takes. Holden’s Rite of Passage affects him in
ways, in which he finds himself having to look back at his past, to fully understand
and proceed to his future. Giving his Rite of Passage a greater meaning in his
peruse towards maturity.
Holden’s age seems like it varies through out the novel. At times acting
appropriately for his age, and at others acting as if he was someone else. As he
once admit, “I was sixteen then and I am sixteen now, and sometimes I act like I am
thirteen”(page 9). Being so unclear of himself shows his internal conflict towards
the fact that he at times does let go of his maturity. Maybe that being the reason
in which he feels the need to act older, and to show himself he really is “mature”.
A great example, in which he constantly tries to mature himself, is his need to
smoke. For he knows he looks older with a lighter and a cigarette in his hand. “I
must have smoked about three cartons that day”(page 161). This being in his own
words, he admits to smoking a lot. Too much actually, for he stresses the number of
cartons he had gone through that same day. Showing the reader his internal conflict
in which he clearly knows his level of immaturity. The level being so low, he has
to smoke constantly to remind himself of his level of wisdom. These conflicts
helping him succeed or fail on his way to find his own meaning of maturity.
A major conflict in which Holden seems to struggle in is his urge to lie. Even
in the smallest conversations, he finds a way to lie about something as small as his
current destination. He well knows his ability to forge the truth. In a way, he
doesn’t seem to feel bothered by all his lies. He almost does it as his own form of
delight. Holden himself acknowledges his habit by stating, “Im the most terrific
liar you ever saw in your life” (page 16). Making Holden go about as someone
immature, by such unnecessary, slight internal conflict. It almost makes one
wonder. Does he feel the need to make himself seem as something, he is not? Holden
also deals with another side of his dishonesty. With his need to lie to other, he
also tends to lie to himself. He makes himself believe things which as untrue, in
many cases making himself seem less intelligent than someone else, when he might
have the same or even more intelligence as the other person. “Im quite illiterate,
but I read a lot” (page 18). This quote of his, being a great example of how he
easily puts himself down, for something he admits to being. In this case, a
profound reader. His immaturity is very noticeable in this particular internal
conflict, for he isn’t quite sure, who he is yet. Not noticing this, also explains
why he struggles to overcome his conflicts, and to move onward to the greater things
in life. Maybe one day he will truly see who he is, and confesses to himself of his
talents and truths.
As the reader learns that Holden has gone to a number of schools, they also
learn of his lack of study and determination. Though as many of his schools
weren’t “fit” for him, his most current school, Pencey Prep as he says is the most
cruel and worst of all. “It was the worst school I ever went to. It was full of
phonies” (page 167), there he describes Pencey as a very “phony”, and superficial
school. The school being so face that he wouldn’t attend to any school activities.
The cruelty that also arises from the school also adds up to the hate he has towards
the school. Giving him an immature level of internal conflicts, for he chooses to
hate on only the aspects of most things. For Holden, Pencey Prep symbolizes the
artificial, harsh world of those who rum them. “It was a stinking school” (page
167), is how Holden personally describes his past school in much shorter terms. The
fact that the schools’ social club members were primarily chosen by a certain
popularity level, tremendously bothered Holden. The school’s misleading ways also
angered Holden for he knows such descriptions of the school are clearly being
exaggerated. The school itself giving themselves a forged image. Perhaps one day
of his Rite of Passage, he will notice how the school might have actually helped him
in ways he would have never thought of, and that his internal conflict could have
been resolved within time. Giving his conflicts much more value for they might have
been the beginning of a happier future.
With so much hate Holden carries along with him, there might be a possibility
that his brother Allie’s death could have affected him, as he carries his memories
along with him. Not only is he saddened by his brother’s death, but his mother also
seems to be morning her son after all this time. She also cannot fully face the
fact that Allie had died and no longer is living, giving a bad influence on Holden.
For now he related with someone who also is reluctant to face the facts of such
horrible memories. Memories that refresh Holden’s mind to such an external tragedy
who no one would ever forget. Constantly telling himself, “Especially my mother,
because she still hasn’t gotten over my brother Allie yet” (page 155). Yet his
little sister, Phoebe must have also felt deep sadness over her brother’s death. As
much as Holden loves his brother, he also believed that his brother Allie was
incomparable. He would constantly put himself after his brother, which had
everything going for him. It was easy for Holden to say his beloved brother was
better than he was, having the utmost respect for him, easily becoming an internal
conflict. At times he finds guidance within his deceased brother in moments when he
needs comfort the most. Just like as when Holden crosses a street, he admits to
saying, “Every time I’d get to the end of the block, I’d make believe I was talking
to my brother Allie” (page 198). Leaving Holden to deal with his own Rite of
Passage and to develop into a fully understandable man with such internal conflicts
in which he can only confront.
As Holden appears to reject any confidence he may have, it almost seems as if
he is hesitant to notice his personal talents, which he carries. “He was two years
younger than I was, but fifty times as intelligent”(page 38). This quote making
clear his tendency to give his brother the most acknowledgement. He almost doesn’t
leave himself any appreciation towards his own skills. Giving his brother
Allie more meaning than his can lead him into a deep internal conflict. For he
might be traumatizing his mind into saying he is only the second best. In the
future accumulating into a very low self-esteem boy with almost no confidence. As
much as it would seem that his brother’s loss affected him internally, his death in
many ways could have also affected him externally. Yes this unforgettable news
might have scared Holden as he exceeded towards his Rite of Passage. Yet in the
end, there was nothing anyone could have done to bring him back to life. Making
Allie’s death in a different perspective, also an external conflict. In a way, it
is good to know that Holden still remembers his younger brother with great respect
and honor. Knowing that not only he was honored to have Allie as his brother, but
also that many others felt enlightened to be of acquaintance with him. “But it
wasn’t just that he was the most intelligent member in the family. He was also the
nicest, in lots of ways”(page38). This quote being one of many validations of how
deep Holden’s admiration for his brother really was. Holden looking back at all his
past memories might encourage him to move forward, into possible conflicts, which he
can now overcome.
Having Holden Caulfield as the protagonist was an excellent
choice taken by the author of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger. Who wrote the
novel in 1951. Having many internal and external conflicts caused Holden to
challenge himself emotionally, as well as mentally. Surely his external conflicts
shared an importance in Holden’s character for they gave way in many of his
decisions. Holden not believing in himself simply describes himself as a gray
haired sixteen year old. Affirming his external and internal conflicts to resemble
and clarify his lack of effort. One of Holden’s achievements must not be attending
his most resent school, Pencey Prep. For he is sure to say that everyone around him
are fake and phony people. What must have impacted his like was the death of his
brother Allie. His brother’s death sparked an internal and external conflict around
Holden’s cycle of passages. Honoring his brother as much as he reminds himself of
him. His past being a passage in which he must confront and grow before he can
surpass any more obstacles along his path to maturity. Maturing and acknowledging
in every step he takes.
Work Cited
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. London: Little, Brown and Company, 1951.
Mrs. Bosch
English Honors 10
30 October 2006
Rite of Passage In the Catcher In the Rye
The novel The Catcher in the Rye was written by J.D. Salinger in 1951. Having
Holden Caulfield as the protagonist, facing many internal and external conflicts.
His internal conflicts, for Holden passes many challenges in which affect him
emotionally, even though he has the opportunity to change. External conflicts were
surely an important part in Holden’s character for these external conflicts forced a
change and reaction to come forth in his path. The author J.D. Salinger, clearly
presents the setting of the novel within conflicts. When it comes to Holden’s
appearance, he describes himself as a tall sixteen-year-old teenager with gray
hair. At times Holden sees his age as being an excuse for being ‘immature’, but at
times he still compares himself to a thirteen year old. At the same time as he
matures and immatures along phases, he also has a tendency to lower his intelligence
level with his low self-esteem and tendency to lie. Pencey Prepatory, the school in
which he attended to at one point cannot be one of his greatest achievements. For
he constantly informs the reader of how students as well as those around him tend to
be ‘phonies’. His brother Allie’s death had also impacted his life as well as those
around him in tremendous ways. The need to give his brother a greater importance
may also be part of the conflicts he goes through internally. At the same time
Holden finds console in his deceased brother in which he asks for his guidance in
times of despair. As if he cannot make it to a certain point in his life without
him. Making his character look immature as well as unsure of himself at times. It
is when he stumbles upon the fact that he or no one else can change what had
happened, but the memories of his younger brother will always be with him, honoring
him for his qualities every step he takes. Holden’s Rite of Passage affects him in
ways, in which he finds himself having to look back at his past, to fully understand
and proceed to his future. Giving his Rite of Passage a greater meaning in his
peruse towards maturity.
Holden’s age seems like it varies through out the novel. At times acting
appropriately for his age, and at others acting as if he was someone else. As he
once admit, “I was sixteen then and I am sixteen now, and sometimes I act like I am
thirteen”(page 9). Being so unclear of himself shows his internal conflict towards
the fact that he at times does let go of his maturity. Maybe that being the reason
in which he feels the need to act older, and to show himself he really is “mature”.
A great example, in which he constantly tries to mature himself, is his need to
smoke. For he knows he looks older with a lighter and a cigarette in his hand. “I
must have smoked about three cartons that day”(page 161). This being in his own
words, he admits to smoking a lot. Too much actually, for he stresses the number of
cartons he had gone through that same day. Showing the reader his internal conflict
in which he clearly knows his level of immaturity. The level being so low, he has
to smoke constantly to remind himself of his level of wisdom. These conflicts
helping him succeed or fail on his way to find his own meaning of maturity.
A major conflict in which Holden seems to struggle in is his urge to lie. Even
in the smallest conversations, he finds a way to lie about something as small as his
current destination. He well knows his ability to forge the truth. In a way, he
doesn’t seem to feel bothered by all his lies. He almost does it as his own form of
delight. Holden himself acknowledges his habit by stating, “Im the most terrific
liar you ever saw in your life” (page 16). Making Holden go about as someone
immature, by such unnecessary, slight internal conflict. It almost makes one
wonder. Does he feel the need to make himself seem as something, he is not? Holden
also deals with another side of his dishonesty. With his need to lie to other, he
also tends to lie to himself. He makes himself believe things which as untrue, in
many cases making himself seem less intelligent than someone else, when he might
have the same or even more intelligence as the other person. “Im quite illiterate,
but I read a lot” (page 18). This quote of his, being a great example of how he
easily puts himself down, for something he admits to being. In this case, a
profound reader. His immaturity is very noticeable in this particular internal
conflict, for he isn’t quite sure, who he is yet. Not noticing this, also explains
why he struggles to overcome his conflicts, and to move onward to the greater things
in life. Maybe one day he will truly see who he is, and confesses to himself of his
talents and truths.
As the reader learns that Holden has gone to a number of schools, they also
learn of his lack of study and determination. Though as many of his schools
weren’t “fit” for him, his most current school, Pencey Prep as he says is the most
cruel and worst of all. “It was the worst school I ever went to. It was full of
phonies” (page 167), there he describes Pencey as a very “phony”, and superficial
school. The school being so face that he wouldn’t attend to any school activities.
The cruelty that also arises from the school also adds up to the hate he has towards
the school. Giving him an immature level of internal conflicts, for he chooses to
hate on only the aspects of most things. For Holden, Pencey Prep symbolizes the
artificial, harsh world of those who rum them. “It was a stinking school” (page
167), is how Holden personally describes his past school in much shorter terms. The
fact that the schools’ social club members were primarily chosen by a certain
popularity level, tremendously bothered Holden. The school’s misleading ways also
angered Holden for he knows such descriptions of the school are clearly being
exaggerated. The school itself giving themselves a forged image. Perhaps one day
of his Rite of Passage, he will notice how the school might have actually helped him
in ways he would have never thought of, and that his internal conflict could have
been resolved within time. Giving his conflicts much more value for they might have
been the beginning of a happier future.
With so much hate Holden carries along with him, there might be a possibility
that his brother Allie’s death could have affected him, as he carries his memories
along with him. Not only is he saddened by his brother’s death, but his mother also
seems to be morning her son after all this time. She also cannot fully face the
fact that Allie had died and no longer is living, giving a bad influence on Holden.
For now he related with someone who also is reluctant to face the facts of such
horrible memories. Memories that refresh Holden’s mind to such an external tragedy
who no one would ever forget. Constantly telling himself, “Especially my mother,
because she still hasn’t gotten over my brother Allie yet” (page 155). Yet his
little sister, Phoebe must have also felt deep sadness over her brother’s death. As
much as Holden loves his brother, he also believed that his brother Allie was
incomparable. He would constantly put himself after his brother, which had
everything going for him. It was easy for Holden to say his beloved brother was
better than he was, having the utmost respect for him, easily becoming an internal
conflict. At times he finds guidance within his deceased brother in moments when he
needs comfort the most. Just like as when Holden crosses a street, he admits to
saying, “Every time I’d get to the end of the block, I’d make believe I was talking
to my brother Allie” (page 198). Leaving Holden to deal with his own Rite of
Passage and to develop into a fully understandable man with such internal conflicts
in which he can only confront.
As Holden appears to reject any confidence he may have, it almost seems as if
he is hesitant to notice his personal talents, which he carries. “He was two years
younger than I was, but fifty times as intelligent”(page 38). This quote making
clear his tendency to give his brother the most acknowledgement. He almost doesn’t
leave himself any appreciation towards his own skills. Giving his brother
Allie more meaning than his can lead him into a deep internal conflict. For he
might be traumatizing his mind into saying he is only the second best. In the
future accumulating into a very low self-esteem boy with almost no confidence. As
much as it would seem that his brother’s loss affected him internally, his death in
many ways could have also affected him externally. Yes this unforgettable news
might have scared Holden as he exceeded towards his Rite of Passage. Yet in the
end, there was nothing anyone could have done to bring him back to life. Making
Allie’s death in a different perspective, also an external conflict. In a way, it
is good to know that Holden still remembers his younger brother with great respect
and honor. Knowing that not only he was honored to have Allie as his brother, but
also that many others felt enlightened to be of acquaintance with him. “But it
wasn’t just that he was the most intelligent member in the family. He was also the
nicest, in lots of ways”(page38). This quote being one of many validations of how
deep Holden’s admiration for his brother really was. Holden looking back at all his
past memories might encourage him to move forward, into possible conflicts, which he
can now overcome.
Having Holden Caulfield as the protagonist was an excellent
choice taken by the author of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger. Who wrote the
novel in 1951. Having many internal and external conflicts caused Holden to
challenge himself emotionally, as well as mentally. Surely his external conflicts
shared an importance in Holden’s character for they gave way in many of his
decisions. Holden not believing in himself simply describes himself as a gray
haired sixteen year old. Affirming his external and internal conflicts to resemble
and clarify his lack of effort. One of Holden’s achievements must not be attending
his most resent school, Pencey Prep. For he is sure to say that everyone around him
are fake and phony people. What must have impacted his like was the death of his
brother Allie. His brother’s death sparked an internal and external conflict around
Holden’s cycle of passages. Honoring his brother as much as he reminds himself of
him. His past being a passage in which he must confront and grow before he can
surpass any more obstacles along his path to maturity. Maturing and acknowledging
in every step he takes.
Work Cited
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. London: Little, Brown and Company, 1951.