What are some motifs in The Catcher in the Rye?
What are some motifs in The Catcher in the Rye?
MotifsLoneliness. Holden’s loneliness, a more concrete manifestation of his alienation problem, is a driving force throughout the book. Relationships, Intimacy, and Sexuality. Relationships, intimacy, and sexuality are also recurring motifs relating to the larger theme of alienation. Lying and Deception.
How is innocence shown in The Catcher in the Rye?
As its title indicates, the dominating theme of The Catcher in the Rye is the protection of innocence, especially of children. The people he admires all represent or protect innocence. He thinks of Jane Gallagher, for example, not as a maturing young woman but as the girl with whom he used to play checkers.
How are themes of alienation and loneliness presented in The Catcher in the Rye?
Alienation in the Catcher in the Rye Holden perceives his loneliness and isolation and wants to break the confines of his alienation by making some form of human connection. So while his alienation protects him, it also severely harms him, making him intensely lonely and depressed.
Why is Holden obsessed with innocence?
Luna Belle Pris He knows when you grow up ,you lose your innocence and there is nothing you can do about it. That’ s why he dreams of keeping children in the Rye where he can ” catch” them before they fall. By wanting to save others Holden was saving himself and did so, with Phoebe’s help. …
Why is Holden so obsessed with phoniness?
Holden characterizes “phonies” as people who are dishonest or fake about who they really are, or people who play a part just to fit into a society that Holden questions. Therefore, Holden hates “phonies” because they represent everything he fears or fights against, such as adulthood, conformity, and commercialism.
Who does Holden hate?
Sally Hayes
How does Holden lose innocence?
Holden says that the night Allie died he slept in the garage, breaking it’s windows and reveals, “‘He’s dead now. He feels this way because he lost his innocence when his younger brother dies and this reinforces the image that one tends to detach from society when they loose their innocence.
Why is Holden a hypocrite?
Holden is a “hypocrite” when he makes up stories about himself and pretends to be someone he isn’t. He constantly criticizes members of society for being “phonies” but he behaves similarly by lying to others. However, this hypocrisy is more than just an oversight on Holden’s part.
Why is Holden unreliable?
Overall, Holden is an unreliable narrator through his unstable mentality caused by childhood issues and Allies death as well as through his hypocritical actions, lies, and problematic views.
What’s wrong with Holden Caulfield?
Holden Caulfield suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. The fictional cause is the death of his beloved little brother, Allie. Holden is J.D. Salinger, himself, and Holden’s PTSD is Salinger’s PTSD.
Why does Holden always lie?
In The Catcher in the Rye, the reasons that Holden feels the need to lie vary according to the situations he finds himself in. He lies to protect his privacy, to avoid hurting others with the truth, and to avoid punishment or embarrassment.
Why does Holden see Mr Spencer?
Mr. Spencer is Holden’s History teacher and Holden goes to visit him because he is sick and he wrote him a note to to say goodbye to him. Mr. Spencer was one man he respected while holden was there and holden was kicked out of the school so he wants to see his teacher one last time.
How does Holden lie to himself?
Holden is certainly an interesting character who does lie to himself. He openly admits it by saying, “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It’s awful” (16). One example of Holden lying to himself is when he avoids taking responsibility for leaving the fencing team’s foils on the subway.
Who is Holden’s favorite biblical character?
It is telling that, other than Jesus, Holden’s favorite character in the Bible is “that lunatic and all, that lived in the tombs and kept cutting himself with stones.” He refers to Mark 5: 1-20, in which Jesus meets the troubled soul whose “name is Legion: for we are many.” Holden himself is a troubled soul and, like …
Why is Holden still a virgin?
In contrast, Holden later claims that he’s still a virgin because he always stops at “No,” so what sets him apart from Stradlater and Co. is his refusal to commit what today we’d classify as sexual assault.
Why did Holden cry in Chapter 14?
Standing his ground, Holden refuses to pay Maurice more money, so Maurice pins him while Sunny takes his wallet. At this point, Holden begins to cry and accuses Sunny and Maurice of stealing from him, so Maurice pushes him.
What chapter does Holden want to kill himself?
Chapter 14
Is Holden religious Chapter 14?
He questions religion. Holden talks about his views toward religion in Chapter 14. He says that he feels like praying, but cannot because he can never pray when he feels like it. He also claims that he is “sort of an atheist,” but as he continues, it does not seem that he really is an atheist.