Self-Alienation: The main theme of Catcher in the Rye (written by J.D. Salinger). The protagonist Holden Caulfield is trying to figure himself out. His confusion between whether to stay a child or become an adult has caused him to become self-alienated and that self-alienation has also caused his alienation from the world around him. He can no longer identify with himself and others.
This novel would do a lot of good to those people who feel lost with the world around them and themselves.
I read 'Catcher in the Rye' when I was in 10th grade, when most of us are going through that transition phase.
I believe you can find a balance between both worlds (childhood and adulthood). I am still trying to obtain it, but I have never thought of abandoning one for the other. Both worlds define who I am; and most people have seen both sides, no matter how positive or negative.
Finding your place within the world, is important. But the truth is, the person you are, keeps changing over time with situations and circumstances. There are some core values that remain the same and figuring those out is invaluable. Figuring out the type of person you are, does not mean, putting yourself into labels. There are so many facets to one's personality. You can't fit into one category or label!
'Catcher in the Rye' talks about the hypocrisy of the adult world; where people pretend to be what they are not. This hypocrisy is one of the major issues that stops Holden from wanting to grow up. He talks about the many masks that people wear in the world and how no one really is the way they act to be.
'Catcher in the Rye' is a beautiful transitional journey of a young boy finding his way in the world, and finally making up his mind in the end. Holden's innocence and naivety about the world, his silly curiosity-filled questions, his dilemmas, his pains, his alienation are so beautifully and movingly described that somewhere along the way while reading the novel, you will become Holden Caulfield.
Reading this novel, reminds me that it is okay if you can not find yourself once in a while; you will find yourself eventually. It gives me a reminder, that life is not really as complicated as we make it to be; you just need to take a stand and that's it.
I found a kindred soul in Holden Caulfield. Maybe, you will too.
This novel would do a lot of good to those people who feel lost with the world around them and themselves.
I read 'Catcher in the Rye' when I was in 10th grade, when most of us are going through that transition phase.
I believe you can find a balance between both worlds (childhood and adulthood). I am still trying to obtain it, but I have never thought of abandoning one for the other. Both worlds define who I am; and most people have seen both sides, no matter how positive or negative.
Finding your place within the world, is important. But the truth is, the person you are, keeps changing over time with situations and circumstances. There are some core values that remain the same and figuring those out is invaluable. Figuring out the type of person you are, does not mean, putting yourself into labels. There are so many facets to one's personality. You can't fit into one category or label!
'Catcher in the Rye' talks about the hypocrisy of the adult world; where people pretend to be what they are not. This hypocrisy is one of the major issues that stops Holden from wanting to grow up. He talks about the many masks that people wear in the world and how no one really is the way they act to be.
'Catcher in the Rye' is a beautiful transitional journey of a young boy finding his way in the world, and finally making up his mind in the end. Holden's innocence and naivety about the world, his silly curiosity-filled questions, his dilemmas, his pains, his alienation are so beautifully and movingly described that somewhere along the way while reading the novel, you will become Holden Caulfield.
Reading this novel, reminds me that it is okay if you can not find yourself once in a while; you will find yourself eventually. It gives me a reminder, that life is not really as complicated as we make it to be; you just need to take a stand and that's it.
I found a kindred soul in Holden Caulfield. Maybe, you will too.
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