As its title indicates, the dominating theme of The Catcher in the Rye is
the protection of innocence, especially of children
. For most of the book, Holden sees this as a primary virtue. It is very closely related to his struggle against growing up.
What does Catcher in the Rye teach us?
He is a child in the rye that needs to be saved though he doesn't admit it yet. This teaches us
that saving others is important, but caring for yourself is crucial
. Some students get lost in the educational process. They put all the efforts into being the best.
What does Catcher in the Rye symbolize?
The title of The Catcher in the Rye is a reference to “Comin' Thro the Rye,” a Robert Burns poem and a symbol for
the main character's longing to preserve the innocence of childhood
. “If a body catch a body coming through the rye.” …
Why you should read Catcher in the Rye?
The way Salinger wrote it makes it feel as if you are face to face with Holden Caulfield having a
conversation
with him. A lot of people also find it easy to relate with Holden because they agree with some of his views. Read it when I was I. My most depressed/angsty teenage state of mind, and I abhorred it.
What makes Catcher in the Rye so great?
It's the greatest book of its time
because it is the one that students read in its entirety
. … The Catcher in the Rye is the greatest book of its time because it makes students who read it, even the ones who don't like reading, want to read more.
What does the last line of Catcher in the Rye mean?
The last line of the book says, “
Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.
” From what I remember, this means that Holden made up all of those stories.
What is the irony in The Catcher in the Rye?
The irony of The Catcher in the Rye is
that Holden subconsciously longs to be accepted yet feels he cannot make the connection
. Yet he does by making Salinger the unwilling, erstwhile guru to a generation of displaced teenagers who made Holden an icon of their angst.
Why was Holden Caulfield depressed?
His past traumas and current issues have led him to depression
. In the beginning, Holden tells readers about the two deaths he experienced. His younger brother, Allie, died of leukemia three years prior, which greatly impacted him emotionally. Additionally, a classmate of Holden's previous school committed suicide.
What to read if you like The Catcher in the Rye?
- of 10. ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' …
- of 10. ‘Lord of the Flies' …
- of 10. ‘The Great Gatsby' …
- of 10. ‘The Outsiders' …
- of 10. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' …
- of 10. ‘Flowers for Algernon' …
- of 10. ‘Slaughterhouse-Five' …
- of 10. ‘Lady Chatterley's Lover'
Why is Catcher in the Rye so controversial?
Some books may be banned for the whole novel in general, and some books are banned for just one word or even their book cover (“If You Think We're Free”). The Catcher in the Rye has been challenged several times
for its “excessive vulgar language, sexual scenes, and things concerning moral issues”
(Sova).
Why is The Catcher in the Rye a banned book?
Image Via Slanted Online. One of the main reasons people have banned The Catcher in The Rye is
because it contains foul language
. The protagonist, a sixteen-year-old boy named Holden swears throughout the book, which makes parents feel like he's a bad role model for their teens who are reading the novel in school.
Does Holden Caulfield go to a mental hospital?
Holden is not specific about his location while he's telling the story, but he makes
it clear that he is undergoing treatment in a mental hospital or sanatorium
. The events he narrates take place in the few days between the end of the fall school term and Christmas, when Holden is sixteen years old.
Why does Holden cry at the carousel?
Holden is struggling to find his place in the world, and there are so many people that disappoint him. He could also be crying
because he is disappointed to himself
…but once again, Phoebe's acceptance of him despite his “disappointing behaviors” may simply be too great a joy to endure without tears.
What was Holden Caulfield sick with?
Salinger's manuscript for The Catcher in the Rye. Today, readers might infer that Holden must be suffering from some combination of
depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
, and anxiety. Holden himself references mental illness, trauma, and psychoanalysis.
What does Phoebe give Holden that breaks his heart?
Phoebe is also a compassionate person, a girl with a heart. When Holden shows her the smashed recording of
“Little Shirley Beans
,” Phoebe instantly senses the importance of the gift and wants to save the pieces, which she sticks in the drawer of her nightstand.
Why is Holden ironic?
Holden is afraid of becoming an adult but he does everything an adult would do. … He doesn't want that so he puts on an act to seem like a teenager instead of a young adult. This is ironic
because while he is afraid of adulthood he is bringing himself closer by drinking and smoking
.
