Essay, Research Paper: Catcher In The Rye
Literature: Catcher in The Rye
Free Literature: Catcher in The Rye research papers were donated by our members/visitors and are presented free of charge for informational use only. The essay or term paper you are seeing on this page
was not produced by our company and should not be considered a sample of our research/writing service. We are neither affiliated with the author of this essay nor responsible for its content. If you need high quality, fresh and competent research / writing done on the subject of Literature: Catcher in The Rye, use the professional writing service offered by our company.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, portrays Holden Cawfield a New York
City teenager in the 1950's as a manic-depressive. Holden's depression starts
with the death of his brother, Allie . Holden is expelled from numerous schools
due to his poor academics which are brought on by his depression. Manic
depression, compulsive lying, and immaturity throughout the novel characterize
Holden. Events in Holden's life lead him to become depressed. Holden's
depression centers on Allie. The manner that Holden sees himself and how he sees
others leads him to be expelled from school. The speaker expresses, "One
thing about packing depressed me a little," (51). Holden expresses these
feelings when he packs his bags after being notified that he is expelled. Holden
leaves school and heads for New York City, where he finds himself to be more
lonely and depressed than ever. He is all alone and he laments, " What I
really felt like doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out of the
window," (104). Holden says this while he is all alone in his motel room.
He is too ashamed of himself to return home, he knows that his mother will be
upset and his father will be angry with him. He also adds that " I wasn’t
feeling sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all,
I almost wished I was dead," (90). Holden states this during one of the
first nights that he is staying in New York. Holden expresses many thoughts of
depression. Compulsive lying is another characteristic that Holden exhibits.
Holden would tell people lies just so they could not become closer to the real
Holden. Holden tells lies on numerous occasions to gain. Holden pathetically
tells Mrs. Morrow, " I have to have a tiny operation… it isn't very
serious. I have this tiny little tumor on my brain" (58). She tells Holden
that she is very sorry and she is hopeful that he shall be well soon. Holden
then catches him self in a lie and he remarkes, "Once I get started, I can
go on for hours if I feel like it," (58). This compulsive lying shows that
Holden is not satisfied with himself and that he feels that people will judge
him critically. Holden is also a very immature person. He becomes very jealous
and he pretends that recess is everywhere. Holden shows his jealousy when he
finds out that his roommate is dating Jane Gallagher. Jane is Holden's next door
neighboor. He confessed," I could hardly keep my voice from shaking all
over the place. Boy, was I getting nervous" (42). Holden expresses these
feelings to the reader while he is talking to Stradlater about Jane. The
jealousy and immaturity of Holden leads them into a fight. Holden is also
immature in the relationships that he has with females. He explains the cab ride
to the theater with Sally, " We horsed around a little bit in the cab on
the way over to the theater. At first she didn't want to, because she had her
lipstick on and all, but I was being seductive as hell and she didn’t have any
alternative"(125). He continues to tell her how much he loved her and then
he regrets saying that because he really does not. Holden's depression,
immaturity, and suicidal thoughts lead Holden to the rest home where he tells
this story. The characteristics that Holden portrays lead him to being expelled
from school, problems with his parents, and problems in his social life. Had
Holden not been suicidal and immature he would.
City teenager in the 1950's as a manic-depressive. Holden's depression starts
with the death of his brother, Allie . Holden is expelled from numerous schools
due to his poor academics which are brought on by his depression. Manic
depression, compulsive lying, and immaturity throughout the novel characterize
Holden. Events in Holden's life lead him to become depressed. Holden's
depression centers on Allie. The manner that Holden sees himself and how he sees
others leads him to be expelled from school. The speaker expresses, "One
thing about packing depressed me a little," (51). Holden expresses these
feelings when he packs his bags after being notified that he is expelled. Holden
leaves school and heads for New York City, where he finds himself to be more
lonely and depressed than ever. He is all alone and he laments, " What I
really felt like doing was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out of the
window," (104). Holden says this while he is all alone in his motel room.
He is too ashamed of himself to return home, he knows that his mother will be
upset and his father will be angry with him. He also adds that " I wasn’t
feeling sleepy or anything, but I was feeling sort of lousy. Depressed and all,
I almost wished I was dead," (90). Holden states this during one of the
first nights that he is staying in New York. Holden expresses many thoughts of
depression. Compulsive lying is another characteristic that Holden exhibits.
Holden would tell people lies just so they could not become closer to the real
Holden. Holden tells lies on numerous occasions to gain. Holden pathetically
tells Mrs. Morrow, " I have to have a tiny operation… it isn't very
serious. I have this tiny little tumor on my brain" (58). She tells Holden
that she is very sorry and she is hopeful that he shall be well soon. Holden
then catches him self in a lie and he remarkes, "Once I get started, I can
go on for hours if I feel like it," (58). This compulsive lying shows that
Holden is not satisfied with himself and that he feels that people will judge
him critically. Holden is also a very immature person. He becomes very jealous
and he pretends that recess is everywhere. Holden shows his jealousy when he
finds out that his roommate is dating Jane Gallagher. Jane is Holden's next door
neighboor. He confessed," I could hardly keep my voice from shaking all
over the place. Boy, was I getting nervous" (42). Holden expresses these
feelings to the reader while he is talking to Stradlater about Jane. The
jealousy and immaturity of Holden leads them into a fight. Holden is also
immature in the relationships that he has with females. He explains the cab ride
to the theater with Sally, " We horsed around a little bit in the cab on
the way over to the theater. At first she didn't want to, because she had her
lipstick on and all, but I was being seductive as hell and she didn’t have any
alternative"(125). He continues to tell her how much he loved her and then
he regrets saying that because he really does not. Holden's depression,
immaturity, and suicidal thoughts lead Holden to the rest home where he tells
this story. The characteristics that Holden portrays lead him to being expelled
from school, problems with his parents, and problems in his social life. Had
Holden not been suicidal and immature he would.
0
2
Good or bad? How would you rate this essay?
Help other users to find the good and worthy free term papers and trash the bad ones.
Help other users to find the good and worthy free term papers and trash the bad ones.
Get a Custom Paper on Literature: Catcher in The Rye:
Free papers will not meet the guidelines of your specific project. If you need a custom essay on Literature: Catcher in The Rye: , we can write you a high quality authentic essay. While free essays can be traced by Turnitin (plagiarism detection program), our custom written papers will pass any plagiarism test, guaranteed. Our writing service will save you time and grade.
Related essays:
1
1
Literature: Catcher in The Rye / Catcher In The Rye
Everybody at one point in life has someone that he looks up to. Whether they
want to “Be like Mike” or want to be like their favorite actor, every child
needs someone to be a role model. Unfortunately...
3
2
Literature: Catcher in The Rye / Catcher In The Rye
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden views the world as an evil and corrupt place
where there is no peace. This perception of the world does not change
significantly through the novel. However as the nov...
1
1
Literature: Catcher in The Rye / Catcher In The Rye
Does the Voice Matter? How important is the voice that tells a story? It seems
almost trivial to claim that the same story can change because of the voice
telling it to you. Does the voice and point o...
3
3
Literature: Catcher in The Rye / Catcher In The Rye
In the novel, Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, has very definite
views on sexuality, aggression, and death. He is ambivalent towards sex,
loathsome of aggression, and fearsome of death....
0
0
Literature: Catcher in The Rye / Catcher In The Rye
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden views the world as an evil place where there
is no peace. This perception of the world does not change significantly
throughout novel. However, as the novel progresse...