Catcher Essays (953 words) - Fiction, Literature, Literary Realism

Catcher Nikki Bumbacco Ms. Morris ENG 3A0 May 15,1999 Often in literature characters, through different experiences, undergo changes which enable them to grow. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, the author J.D. Salinger portrays Holden as a confused adolecent. The author conveys Holden's inner growth through specific incidents. When Holden is expelled from Pencey he grows and developes a new attitude towards his family. After meeting with a prostitute Holden becomes more mature when he realizes that sex does not fill the gaps of lonliness. Finally when Holden is reunited with his sister Phoebe he realizes that the innocence of children can not be preserved forever. Holden experienced inner growth after he is expelled from Pencey, he meets a prostitue and is reunited with his sister Phoebe. Holden's poor marks and attendence have lead him to being expelled from Pencey. Pencey, Holden felt was crammed with phonies. ? It was one of the worst schools I ever went to , it was full of phonies.? (67) Holden was always depressed and distressed at Pencey. ? I felt like committing suiside.? (107) . Without any sense of direction in his life Holden seeks advice from from one of his old teachers, Mr. Spencer. During his visit with his former teacher , Holden is told by Mr. Spencer that ? Life is a game boy. Life is a game one plays according to the rules.? (8). Holden feels that life is a game only if you are on the side where all the hotshots are, otherwise there is no game. Holden's lonliness forces him to cotact past friends. After meeting with a few of his old friends Holden is left feeling unfulfilled. Holden decides to return home to be with his family when he recalls memories of Phoebe. Phoebe was always very devotedly attached to Holden. ?She likes me a lot . I mean she's quite fond of me. She really is. Anyway, I couldn't get that off my mind, so finally what I figured what I'd do, I'd sneak home to see her, in case I died and all.? (156). Holden comes to understand the importance of family and achieves inner growth after he is expelled from Pencey. Holden also experiences inner growth as a result of hiw encounter with a prostitute. Holden feels that when it comes to girls he can never find what he is looking for. Still a virgin Holden explains to us that in most cases the girl is the one who does not want to have sex. Though in Holden's case, he is the one opposed to having sex. When Holden is asked if he would like a prostitute he does not hestitate to accept the offer. Holden admitts that having sex with a prostitute would be a good time to practice before marriage. ? In a way, that's why I sort of wanted to get some practice in case I ever get married.? (93). Holden waited nervously yet anxiously for the prostitute to arrive. However when she finally arrived Holden comes to realize that the prostitute is all about buisness. Holden is completely turned off when she takes off her clothes and utters ? Let's go, hey. I haven't got all day.? (96). Unexpectingly Holden requests tha prositute to leave. ? The trouble was I just didn't want to do it. I felt more depressed than sexy , if you want to know the truth.? (86). Holden was looking for someone or something to fill his gap of lonliness. Through Holden's experience with the prostitute he realized that sex wasn't the way to go about filling his gap. This situation caused Holden to grow and this changed his attitude towards sex. Another individual who helped Holden grow was his sister Phoebe. When Holden is reunited with his sister he displays his yearing to preserve childrens' innocence. ? Some body'd written f**k on the wall. It damn near drove me crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them all cock-eyed naturally what it meant and how they'd all think about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of