#the catcher in the rye analysis

[chaotic-multi-fandom]

Holden Caulfield

So, I just finished “The Catcher in the Rye”, and it was very different from what I expected. This book has a reputation of being somewhat extreme, and making teenagers more angry, depressed or even violent because of its main character Holden. However, now that I’ve read it, I fail to see why. I can understand why at the time of its publication Holden’s internal monologue could’ve been seen as alarming, specially to adults, but not as much in the present time, and definitely not as extreme as it said to be. He’s also constantly called annoying, pretentious and an asshole, which he sometimes is, but once again, In my opinion, not to the extreme people present him as. I didn’t mind being inside of his head the entire novel, nor did I ever find him as insufferable as most people seem to, and definitely not a monster, if anything I had a lot of empathy and understanding towards him. 

To me, Holden simply came off as a lost 17 year old boy, grappling with grief, identity, and having lost his innocence at a very young age. He’s clearly suffering from depression, and is generally angry and disillusioned with the world, however given his implied experiences it’s only natural, even just the death of his brother prior to the events of the book cold easily explain his behaviour, however there’s definitely other elements, which choses not to reveal, that have contributed to his current state. 

To me, Holden never came off as extreme or violent, at least not enough to be sent to a psych ward or o incite the alarmed response people seem to have to his character. In fact, despite seemingly being done with the world, and not caring about anything anymore, Holden seems to have this constant thrive and need of protecting the world. Despite all of his utterly depressed, frustrated, and negative inner monologue, he’s constantly through out the novel, carrying out these little acts of kindness towards children. He helps two boys find a section of the museum, and explains to them what everything means, he helps a girl tie up her skates at the roller rink, and rubs off nasty messages left at schools so that the children don’t read them, and most notably he does anything and everything for his younger sister Phoebe.

Most of the time, he’s left in awe of the world when he interacts with these children, specially with Phoebe, it’s the only moments were he even says he feels happy. He seems to be impressed by children’s minds, and has this urge to protect and help them every time he encounters one, going to great lengths (such as buying a limited expensive album for his sister) in order to make their days better. Then, he hears a child sing the song that brings the name of the novel “the catcher in the rye”, he sings about a body catching another body in the rye,. When later in the novel he wonders about he’d want to do in the future, the song is the only thing that comes to mind. He imagines that he’s in that field, where children are playing near a cliff, and he’s the one that catches them and leads them away from the cliff, he’s the catcher in the rye. To him, this means saving children from losing their innocence as young as he did. It’s the only thing he can imagine himself doing. 

This truly shows that Holden, is in no way some disturbed violent mind, he’s just a 17 year old child, who lost his innocence at a very young age due to traumatic experiences which he’s only now processing, he’s also going through the grief of his brother’s death, which his parents don’t help with, his mother also suffering from depression, and his father always being away as a big shot lawyer. He’s disillusioned with the world and humanity, because most of his life experiences, and contacts with older role models have been very negative, including the one with his older brother whom he once had a good relationship with, but is now a shame to the family due to his work as a prostitute. He’s desperate for the children around him not to suffer the same fate. 

While he may seem utterly disgusted and done with the world, I think that he actually holds a lot of hope in his heart for his sister Phoebe and all the children he meets. Holden’s problem isn’t that he has no hope left, it’s that he has too much of it no matter how hard he tries to repress it. He holds a hope so great for the world, that he can’t help but stay despite his suicidal thoughts. Holden, fantasises about ending his life several times throughout the novel, but then, as soon as he’s even close to getting sick with a cold for example, he becomes extremely anxious, scared and even obsessive, thinking that he’s going to die, which he desperately doesn’t want to do. Even when he is attacked with those suicidal thoughts, which never last long, he’s always immediately reminded of Phoebe, and realises he couldn’t bare her going through grief. 

Holden desperately wants to stay in this world, and he’s constantly looking for reasons to do so, he’s in awe of the purity and innocence of children, and wishes the world would be kinder and better for them. Holden is lonely angry and depressed, which can result in him acting violently in instances, but essentially, he’s desperately trying to improve the world around him, and repeatedly not giving up on it. As he puts it, he never hates anything for long.

Well, this had been my small Holden rant, however do be aware that, I'm writing this approximately 30 minutes after finishing the book, so my ideas aren't completely settled, and given that I haven't looked AT ALL into actual analysis of the novel, I may be way off, and made a fool of myself but oh well. At the end of the day they're almost no wrong answers when it comes to interpretation, and this is how I personally perceived Holden Caulfield.

[officialurban]

🚨Armageddon Programming | An Analysis of 'The Catcher in The Rye'

Spells are very important in Luciferianism. In our last episode we illustrated how spells are used in society to build our inner mythologies. If you are one of those who can't help but wonder what in the world is happening to our communities right now, you should know that in part it is due to decades of spell casting that is starting to "come true” worldwide, including in the Middle East. While we support the Jewish right to gather in the land of Israel, we do not support ramping up for war on either side. One of the major spells that has been cast on American Christians is the spell that they must be true to Jewish plans and plots at any cost in order to be true to the Bible. Anything less is anti-shemitism. This is a spell, so you had better wake up because Christianity’s God has declared, “Blessed are the peace makers for they will be called the true children of God.” The rest are but dogs and sinners at the gate. To better illuminate how all these spells were, and are being, cast on you, we will use Jerome David Salinger's one hit book, "The Catcher in Rye" over two episodes. It is hoped that the lessons learned here will aid you in seeing how occultists continue to use spells on you today. Hold On, Star Child, here we go! Quack, Quack, Bang, Bang!

🪄Spell Casting - An Introduction

🌾The Catcher in The Lie: Spell Casting Expounded

🚨Armageddon Programming (1/2): Click

While most modern bimbos and numb nuts don’t realize it, we have actually reached the final stages of pastiche from which nothing but a dangerous douse of reality can free us.

💥Armageddon Programming (2/2): The Big Bang

We have spent an inordinate amount of time studying J.D. Salinger’s one hit worldwide best selling book, “The Catcher in the Rye”, using it as an example to explain how media, in all forms, has been used for more than half a century to control the way we think in order to  push a willing slavery agenda on us. The anti-christs, the Jewish Mafia, and pseudo-Christians among us today always broadcast their goals early. We would be smart to hear them now while we can still change course. We don't have much time to change course... Also check out the great research of Urban here. (Dude, keep it up!)

Rumble Playlist (Censored on YouTube)

[dykeofmisfortune]

i think it's really interesting setting catcher in the rye in the leadup to christmas. in new york city of all places. you've got this holiday season associated with togetherness and family and joy and warmth but it's about this kid who's just wandering around aimlessly and lonely and depressed and isolated. and it's in this city that never sleeps full of crowds who hardly look at each other. it's full of people, but everyone's alone. it really drives home the dissonance of the american experience and all that.

[kaeyapilled]

childe tartaglia has something of a holden caufield coding in him

[markerfumes]

My perception of The Catcher In The Rye

Personally, I think the book hints at pedophilia/ child molestation. Let me explain.

Early in the book, Holden says he liked a girl name Jane who had a “bore hound stepfather” doing things like running around naked and being very prone to having tantrums. Later, the stepfather makes Jane cry in front of Holden. She was said to be an innocent girl, quiet, and kept to herself. Was she scared of being around boys? Did her stepfather have something to do with making her this way?

Later in the book, we meet a Mr. Antolini (Holdens old teacher). Holden is invited into Mr and Mrs Antolinis Home and describes their relationship as “never seen in the same room,” implying they are distant. But he goes onto say that they are always seen, “kissing in public,” implying they fake their love for each-other in public, putting on a perfect household mask. I could be reading into things here but, while saying goodnight, Mr Antolini calls Holden “handsome”. Holden later wakes up to find Mr Antolini “petting his face”. He made Holden very uncomfortable. Holden said it happened often from many adults when he was younger. Mr Antolini tries to get Holden to calm down by saying he was just “admiring”. Again, I may be reaching here, but Mr Antolini says in a rant to Holden that, “you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior… just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.” Put in the context of the themes I am reading in to, that doesn’t sit right with me. It sounds like an offer from Mr Antolini.

But back to Holden. When he was made uncomfortable at Mr Antolinis House he said that that kind of thing happened, “about 20 times since I was a kid.” His flee from the old teachers apartment made it obvious what he did triggered something in Holden. This makes so much sense as to why Holden is so immature, or why his friends describe him to seem to never grow up. Holden says he has only been intimate with a girl once, he never wants to make a girl feel uncomfortable or feel pressured to do something she doesn’t want to do. Holden brings a prostitute in his room in the middle of the book, not for love, but to emphasize with her.

It’s no wonder all Holden wants to do is be a catcher in the rye for children. Be someone to save the children from falling off that cliff.

[captainwaffles]

Okay Catcher and The Rye Vs Solitaire

These books are just same thing different font, let me explain.

The book follows a teen who hates school, most people and themselves. They have (various) mental health issues

Tori’s issues are out shinned by Charlie’s, Holden’s aren’t noticed due to the time period

They both hate themselves, but express it in different ways. Tori puts that dead inside feeling on the outside, Holden puts on a show

They both contemplate killing themselves and deal with suicidal thoughts throughout.

Solitaire defiantly has a more defined plot and matches the way stories are told today. Catcher is more just Holdens thoughts and wandering

But Tori frequently does the same, she rambles about things and the plot sometimes seems to disappear

Cause it’s not about that at the end of the day, it’s about the Charecters

It’s about how everyone interacts with eveyone, how everyone by the main charecters a perceived as fake or a phony. Everyone is one deminsional till Tori or Holden find them of importance. So this part

Really makes so much more sense, cause There are a a lot of similarities

Catcher in the Rye is the Blueprint, Solitaire flushed it out for the modern reader

[estel-and-agape]

[yourlocalswan]

yesterday in my Ennui lit class we read Lenz by Georg Buchner and i went feral for 15 (fifteen) minutes straight as opposed to the 5mins i was allotted and i was quite literally ranting and raving about how incredible the work was and how it was the first time i’ve seen my unique and painful life experience of everything being too much and too beautiful and therefore too painful and everyone just looked at me like i was crazy cause i mean the story is crazy and for me to resonate so strongly then i must be crazy. but it felt just like AP Lang in my junior year of high school when we read The Catcher in the Rye and everyone only saw Holden as a pretentious asshole instead of a deeply tormented and observant young person and once again everyone just gave me that Look that’s made me miserable my whole life. why can’t anyone understand?

[specialshinytrinkets]

Literature teacher, to a group of my classmates: Could you explain to me why [my friend] is interested in America of 1950s and 60s?

Me, listening to this going down, with my interest in America of 1920s:

[eyeofthetaiga]

tiktok is a cesspool much the same way this site or any site w a big teenage fanbase is

still concerned abt how many teens and young adults believe in shifting

that should be massively fucking concerning to everybody that there are young people believing in that mumbo jumbo nonsense im not evwn joking like

theres no way that shit isnt a sign of a deteriorating society and how people are further buying into mysticism bc theyre increasingly kinda stupid gullible andnlosing hope in the real workd

[readbooksummary]

the catcher in the rye summary, The Catcher in the Rye is an American novel by J. D. Salinger that was partially published in serial form 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents for its themes of angst and alienation, and as a critique of superficiality in society.

[nothing0fnothing]

I absolutely adore Holden and anyone who pretends that he's anything but a traumatised kid trying to figure out how to use his pain for the best can remove themselves from the premises fr. It's just such a wrong and tired take that Holden is a spoiled whiney brat too. Like, I have no idea how someone literate with reasonable empathy could read it like that, I just assume anyone with the "Catcher in the Rye is pretentious" take needs to a) read the book 2) learn basic literary analysis or tres) get a better opinion.

Anybody who beleives that Holden wasn't sexually abused isn't fit to be an English teacher, for real. The scene where he describes a grown man exposing himself to him with his wife in the next room is in like, the second chapter of the book. Its not easy to overlook. Especially because he literally tells us "I hate it when adults do this" literally telling us in plain English that he has experienced this before. Truly it's like reading Animal Farm and saying it has nothing to do with communist Russia.

Like, people can pretend it's just a bunch of nonsense written by a one time writer, but Sallinger came back from literal war and decided to write this book about a kid getting expelled from school and wandering around New York for half a week. There is brokenness and pain in Catcher weather they want to see it or not. But we see it, and I appreciate that 💕

I think we as a society need to be pushing for a more realistic and sympathetic wide spread analysis of Holden Caulfield. Everyone thinks he’s either some profound intellectual or is just some whiny kid. Holden was emotionally neglected, and it was implied the teacher that he’d trusted SA’d him. That kid wanted to help and protect other kids from the harshness of the world. He was a CHILD. He was whiny because he was a teenager but he had every right to be jaded and hate the world, but he still held out hope that kids could be protected from the harsh reality out there. He was a BABY. He didn’t know where the ducks in central park went when the water froze over. He hired a prostitute and spent the whole night talking to her. He needed someone to protect him. Catcher In The Rye is about a kid that the every adult in his life failed. Throwing money at a kid and offering them no warmth breaks them. Holden was a spoiled bratty kid, but he was just that. A KID. He needed someone to look after him.

[moonstone-reading-nook]

The Stormlight Archives: The Way of Kings

While I commonly engage in literature of all genres, there are few who hold as special a place in my heart as fantasy. There is something about a fictional world of great scope and scale, built meticulously to feel both lived in and varied as our own, that deeply intrigues me. Several months ago, I completed my read through of the highly regarded Wheel of Time series by beloved fantasy author Robert Jordan. That is what introduced me to Brandon Sanderson, who completed the final three novels in the series following Jordan's passing. While not able to entirely recapture the Jordan's uniquely thorough writing style, I believe Sanderson to have done an outstanding job in wrapping of the story based off of Jordan's extensive notes, putting the pieces together in a final novel that exceeded my expectations in every regard.

I have read several books in the time since; several non-fiction psychology books, as I've been struggling with my mental health, as well as addressing some classics I have yet to read: most notably The Catcher in the Rye. However, my mind was continuously drawn back to Sanderson. After the year it took to read through all 14 novels and the prequel of Wheel of Time, I had made myself hunger for another meaty fantasy series I could bite into. So I decided to read Sanderson's largest series, The Stormlight Archive, a series planned to be 10 novels with the 5th to be published in December. My plan going forward would be to read one novel of the Stormlight Archive, then read a classic or two before I returned to the series, which I'd repeat until I caught up. And so, having completed the first entry, I wish to put my thoughts to (digital) paper. These are my thoughts, opinions, and analysis of The Way of Kings.

The story of The Way of Kings is divided into three major plotlines, jumping between them while sprinkling in occasional smaller POVs across the world. One plotline follows Kaladin, former soldier turned slave, desperate to save the slaves he as been placed with to serve as manual labor and distractions against enemy forces. Closely tied is Dallinar's story, following the brother of a murdered king whose death started the war Kaladin is now trapped in. He struggles with a commitment to follow the Words of book named blasphemous that his late brother told him to him to read in his final words. Teachings that draw him much ire from the competing lords as he finds himself more and more determined to end the war quickly. The final one follows Shallan. More disconnected from the other two, Shallan serves as a ward under Dallinar's niece Jasnah, planning to steal her magic catalyst, a fabrial, for her own gain, but finds herself conflicted, as she realizes she truly wants to be a scholar alongside Jasnah.

All three plotlines have unique themes, as well as overlapping ones. A major overarching theme is commitment and doubt. All three characters struggle to fullfil to promises they made to themselves due to increased doubt surrounding viability, morality, and hope. Kaladin begins to doubt his own philosophy, that those who take lives to protect lives are different from those who simply take, and his ability to save his fellow slaves as he subjects himself and his men to harsher conditions as he tries to build hope. Dallinar doubts his own sanity as visions of the past appear before him, urging him to follow the Words that even his son begins to believe are acts of mental instability, and Shallan waffles from her goal as she grows attached to her Master, though begins to doubt her morality. All eventually choose to commit with varying results. I believe this goes beyond typical character conflict that all great characters must face, or overcoming the lie they believe, because they all revolve around their commitment. Kaladin has sworn to protect time and time again, but has consistently failed to do so. Dallinar has committed to doing as his visions have told him: uniting the Alethi, a goal that seems increasingly impossible. Shallan has committed herself to her family, to steal Jasnah's fabrial to save them from financial ruin. It is these promises they have made that drive their turmoil, but they do not serve as mere falsehoods. They serve as tests of conviction, and demonstrate how difficult even goals believed to be noble can be to uphold.

Other themes I found were the co-existing value and naïvety of trust and honor, as well as how the world has been twisted by a lack thereof, by an egotistical philosophy. Dallinar upholds himself as a man and his men as people of honor, as compared to the effective yet cruel rival Brightlord Sadeas. While doubtful, Dallinar chooses to trust those around him as much as he believes is safe, despite this leading him into incredibly dangerous positions. Additionally, Kaladin's honor is initially mocked by his fellow bridgemen, but it slowly turns into a beacon of hope to follow, even as their accomplishments only gain them severe punishments. The bridgemen are treated as subhuman, property able to be bought and sold for a set price, and easily thrown away, though fighting against this all seems futile, as this is simply how the world is, and those in power see no reason to change it.

Additionally, mental health seems to be central to the series as a whole. Kaladin evidently suffers from intense PTSD and depression, with Dallinar likely harboring that same depression. While only hinted at in this novel, I have been told that Shallan also has DID, which is, unlike usual, presented very well. The disorder are all treated accurately and with respect, and show those weighed down by them still managing to push on and build something for themselves.

Most central though seems to be the idea that a single human life has infinite value, humans have also made the world a cruel and terrible place by prioritizing themselves over others at all costs. The only way forward is to take the first the first step with morality and honor, even with it's terrible consequences in the world we have created, because if no one starts, there can be no one to follow.

My thoughts on the novel are overall very positive. I found myself very emotionally attached to the characters, particularly Kaladin, and several moments hit me like an emotional freight train. The world and magic system are both astonishingly unique and endlessly interesting. I find the world holding to be some of the best I've seen in fantasy novels. That being said, I'm not particularly fond of Sanderson's writing style. I find it at times to be overly simplistic, simply stating what is happening without any notable flourishes in style. I found some of that to be the same in his first Wheel of Time novel, but by the time I reached the final installment, he had found a wonderful balance of his own while recapturing some of Jordan's. I should not have expected that style here, especially as this novel was written 4 years before A Memory of Light, and yet I still found myself a small bit disappointed. That being said, I don't find the style egregious, just mediocre. The world, characters, themes and conveyance of emotion more than make up for it, and I look forward to the next novel with great anticipation.

Next, I plan to read 1984, a novel I am shocked I have yet to read, as it aligns well with my interests and I previously greatly enjoyed Orwell's Animal Farm. It's far shorter than Stormlight Archive novels, so it should not take me nearly as long. I am busy enough to not have too much time for reading anymore, but I am making an effort to carve out time. I hope to be posting again soon.

[cargopantsprentiss]

what did you think about the jemily episode? i love your analysis

I wanted to rewatch before replying!

I’m still not convinced how in character Emily getting high is but like I guess if we see it as her trying to rebel against becoming her own mother and her whole hatred of politics it makes sense. Why she would buy edibles that resemble fucking Cheetos and then not think to hide those from JJ I do not know.

Kind of unimportant but I’m really mad about the Catcher in the Rye comment because we know Emily loves to read and I find it very hard to believe she hasn’t read that book.

Honestly my expectations for the Jemily content were on the floor so this far exceeded that.

As much as I’m a bit sad we didn’t get to have more of a deep moment with it, I kind of loved that it was really only her saying the BAU gave her Emily, and reliving those past traumas, that made JJ sort of emotional? And the fact you could immediately see in Emily’s face that that was enough of a reason. Like, that’s the Jemily we know and love, that deep connection they’ve had since almost the moment they met. I liked that JJ was sort of flippant about BAUGate, and that Emily’s reaction was “it’s not that you couldn’t handle it, it’s that you shouldn’t have to” because that’s PERFECT.

Also confirmation that Emily helped JJ through her miscarriage is everything to me actually.

IT GIVES ME YOU AHGGHHHHDJDJSK

That is all :)

[dykeofmisfortune]

thinking about starting a youtube video essay channel tailored to my interests specifically designed for me here are some ideas

bojack horseman as a modern retelling of greek tragedy (accidentally signed up for a class on classical literature and this is all i can think of) (i tie it back to aristotle's poetics)

how bruce springsteen and dolly parton both subvert gender expectations by playing into them as a working class critique of american culture

philosophy of undertale and deltarune or a literary analysis (these are my favorite genre of videos ever)

how media shapes rock cultures (thinly veiled velvet goldmine analysis abt 70s glamrock and also i talk about the importance of the internet and MTV in shaping 2000s emo subculture development) (thinly veiled excuse to infodump about mcr also)

analyzing biblical imagery in indie games (undertale, deltarune, omori, OneShot)

the rise of 2020s queer comedy (+ analyzing ofmd and good omens because i have things to say)

why is being on the road so queer? (analyzing on the road by jack kerouac, my own private idaho, the origins of the road movie trope (easy rider, haven't seen that) early seasons of supernatural, bruce springsteen's Born to Run, and a nonwestern example of a road movie in Sholay 1975, and danger days mcr)

all-boys: teen media about implicit queerness in an all-boys (all-white) 1950s boarding school (aka just talk about dead poets society and catcher in the rye and a separate peace)

[dykeofmisfortune]

i'm a little bit late, but here's my take on it: i think it represents holden's need for stability/connection and his perceived lack of it with his family, as well as his position as a protector of innocence. Allie's death is still clearly affecting holden, and it's safe to say what with D.B. moving to hollywood and himself being at a boarding school and his parents being almost completely out of the picture, he's felt really disconnected from his family. but in this scene while phoebe is distant, she's still walking a parallel path to him, where he can see her and watch out for her even if he's not present with her at all times.

One detail of that passage that sticks out to me is when he says he got worried when a double decker bus would pass because he wouldn't be able to see her. It's really sweet and shows just how much he genuinely cares and wants to look out for her

Ultimately it has to do with growing up and the cycle of "adults failing children" that's hinted at throughout the book. Phoebe is always destined to walk the same metaphorical "path" as holden -- growing up, which might involve a lot of struggle and hardships as he has, and that inevitable loss of childhood innocence. But the fact that he can look after her, even from a distance, shows that he can break that cycle, and give Phoebe a protector that he never had growing up, and that he could never be for Allie.

At the climax of the novel, we found Phoebe and Holden walking along a the same streets, but on different sidewalks; walking parallel to each other.

Does anybody know what this scene mean? Please help me out in the comments/reblogs.