Catcher in The Rye Final Essay- Motif to Theme Essay (Final Draft) PDF

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Summary

In a multi-paragraph essay, detail the existence of a motif throughout The Catcher in the Rye, and analyze how Salinger employs the motif to develop a major theme. You must include MLA format, an introduction, 3 body paragraphs with a total of 8 concrete details, and a conclusion....

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How often have you asked yourself, 'How do I fit in?' What about 'What do I want to do?' And finally, how may people have questioned themselves by asking, 'Is this what I'm meant to do?' The Catcher in the Rye is an account of Holden Caulfield, who is portrayed to almost always be at odds with growing up into an adult. The story revolves around the time before he was placed in a psychiatric ward, focusing on the lows in life, and how he found his way back up. In the Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Holden’s physical and mental state is employed to develop the motif of “childhood and maturity”, conveying the theme that it is futile and detrimental to resist maturation as it is to pose as an adult prematurely.

Salinger gives the first sign of the motif of “childhood and maturity” by expressing Holden’s wishes to preserve the purity he associates with childhood, thus showing the futility of these wishes as Holden is pushed to mature. As Holden is spends his last day at Pencey, he finds that his roommate Stradlater is going out on a date with Jane, his childhood friend. Holden often mentions going to greet Jane, but never does so, instead repeating the sentiment repeatedly. Holden recalls that Jane’s parents were divorced, and that her stepfather was an alcoholic that ran around the house naked. Holden notices Stradlater’s sudden interest in his story and when Stradlater leaves for his date with Jane, Holden becomes “so nervous I[he] nearly went crazy” knowing “what a sexy bastard Stradlater was” (4). Salinger uses Stradlater to show Holden’s unconscious hesitancy to enter the adult world despite his fear of something happening that would ruin Jane’s “innocence”. Holden’s stressful reaction is also utilized by Salinger to show that despite Holden’s wishes to preserve Jane’s innocence, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to do anything renders his hopes useless. Similarly, Holden expresses his wish of preserving good things as he walks past the museum of history. Holden explains how things should be “stuck in one of those big glass cases” and left alone. Holden later notes that “I[he] know[s] that it’s impossible” (16). Although Holden wishes to keep his childhood inside a glass container and preserve it, he knows that keeping things the way they are forever is impossible as time always moves forward, leaving his wishes unfulfilled. Another example is when Holden is at the amusement park with Phoebe, his younger sister. As he watches Phoebe reach out for the golden ring on the carousel ride, he feels “sort of afraid” that she would fall off the horse. Despite

Holden’s fear of Phoebe falling, he doesn’t “say anything or do anything” (25). Holden fears that Phoebe will fall off the horse and understand what danger in the adult world is, but Holden accepts and finally understands that his dreams to protect all children is unattainable, and that it was only a matter of time before all children would have to let go, and mature. Thought the book, Salinger pushes Holden to wish for the preservation of childhood and innocence, showing that staying in the past and not moving forward is impossible.

The second sign of the motif “childhood and maturity” that Salinger develops is conveyed through Holden’s forays into the adult world effectively expressing the fruitlessness of pre-maturation. As Holden forays into the adult world, it forces him into situations that make Holden seem immature and causes his fear and resistance of maturity and growing up. As Holden thrusts himself into adult situations, he starts to fear maturity so much that is pushes him backwards rather than forwards in life. This can be seen in his experience with the prostitute, Sunny. While going to a hotel, the lobby man asks Holden his age, and if he wants a throw. Holden lies and says that he is twenty-two and agrees, ending up sitting in his room waiting. As Holden starts to talk to Sunny and notices how she acts so nervously, he starts to feel “more depressed” (13) and ends up not doing anything with her. Holden pushes himself into a situation that makes him feel depressed, as he sees the side effects of maturing, and how sad the adult world can be. Thus, is why Holden regresses from naturally maturing as he becomes fearful of what is ahead of him. Later, Holden goes to a bar and orders alcohol despite him being a minor. The waiter asks Holden for verification of his age, Holden reacts by giving the waiter, “a very cold stare like he insulted me” (10). Holden, being unable to produce evidence that he was above age, admits defeat and that he was, “a goddamn minor” (10). Holden feels the need to prove to himself and others that he is a fully grown and mature adult and can be independent. In the end Holden acknowledges that even if he pretends to act like an adult, that he is still a child to the world around him. As Holden spends time in the hotel bar, he

attempts to associate himself with girls, and ends up dancing with one. The girl asks Holden how old he was, he feels “annoyed for some reason” (10). Holden again faces the crushing reality that no matter how hard he tries to pose as an adult figure, it can be easily distinguished that he is not one, and how posing as one makes him look like a moron. As Salinger places Holden in each experience, Holden sees the process of maturation as something of a travesty, and refuses it, expressing that pre-maturation is a fruitless, and only leads to a person’s regression.

Finally, Salinger develops the motif of “childhood and maturity” to convey that Holden’s resistance and forced maturation becomes not only futile, but also detrimental as his poor physical state rubs off onto his mental state. This is conveyed when Holden meets with a prostitute named Sunny. As Sunny walks in and sits down, Holden notices her leg shaking and that she was nervous. To comfort her, Holden often offers her a cigarette, but she declines, and Holden remembers that, “I[He] forgot she didn't smoke” (13). Holden offers Sunny the cigarette unconsciously, hoping that it would calm her down. This action is heavily is influenced by his own habit of smoking to calm himself down. Later, after Sunny leaves, he starts to smoke and describes himself feeling, “miserable” and “so depressed” (14). When Holden forces himself to mature by meeting with a prostitute, he is unable to cope with the change thus leading Holden to feel “miserable” and smoke. This is also seen when Holden leaves his history teacher’s house after talking about Holden’s future. As Holden leaves Mr. Spencer yells, “Good luck!”, to which Holden reacts to with distaste. Holden “hope[s] to hell” (2) that Mr. Spencer didn’t shout “good luck” to him. Holden resists moving forward in life, and the phrase “good luck” reminds him of all the hardships and struggles that he would have to face if he continued the road to being a mature adult. Salinger portrays the lows of Holden’s life and shows that resistance and forced maturation that one goes through is detrimental to a person’s mind.

Throughout the novel, Holden is faced with the trials and tribulations of growing up. This ranges from the desire to stay behind in the past, to wanting to fit in with people around him. In the novel Catcher in the

Rye by J.D. Salinger effectively presents a relatable character who has trouble living in his own skin, and conveys the message that both resisting adulthood and forcing oneself to grow up before one is fully prepared to accept the trials and tribulations of life is detrimental to an individual’s development....