Catcher in the Rye :: essays research papers

The Struggling sonThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is an enthralling and captivating apologue about a son and his struggle with life. The teenage boy ,Holden, is in turmoil with school, retirement, and finding his place in the world. The author J.D. Salinger examines the many sides of mien and moral dilemma of many characters throughout the overbold. The author develops three plain character types for Holden the confused and struggling teenage boy, Ackley, a peculiar boy without many friends, and quintette, a funny and kindhearted young girl.In the novel one distinctive type is the loner the character type which Holden Caufield portrayed. Holdens loneliness and confusion puts him in a depression that he cant escape. Holden thinks to himself "It made you depressed, and both once in a while you got goose flesh. It didnt seem at all like Christmas was coming soon. It didnt seem like anything was coming."(pg.118)Another character that was portrayed throughout the novel was peculiarity. The teenage boy Ackley who lives across the hallway from Holden is very strange and has few friends. Ackley was very shitty, never brushed his teeth, and approximately always stayed alone in his room. Holden says " His teeth were always mossy- looking, and he was dirty as hell, but he always had clean fingernails."(pg.22)Innocence and kindheartedness is displayed in the novel through Holdens young sister, Phoebe. Whenever Holden is depressed about cosmos alone he thinks of memories with his younger sister Phoebe and feels completely better. Phoebe is always there for her brother to listen to his stories and complaints.