The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is a coming-of-age realistic fiction that goes over the importance of growing up and breaking the barrier of innocence. The main character, Holden Caulfield, has just recently been kicked out of yet another school but is scared to face the harsh consequences his parents will give him. As a way to get out of the punishments his parents have planned for him, he takes an adventurous trip to New York City without any parental supervision. Holden is a sixteen-year-old who has a sarcastic, angsty, and anti-phony personality. The stories and memories he shares with the reader show how he is different from other teenagers in the sense that he is more authentic and self-expressed. While explaining his adventures in New York City, he has many flirtatious encounters with women and spends money irresponsibly. Even though Holden is experiencing many adult-like interactions, he shows his naive and childlike side when he shares his curiosity about the ducks in the pond and where they go in the winter. As a young teen, Holden learns about the struggles and challenges that many adults deal with on a daily basis in their busy lives. Many young adults have responsibilities they must tend to like caring for their families, managing businesses, and maintaining other personal interests. The responsibility and maturity that Holden has to act upon are almost impossible standards due to his very irrational and childlike actions. As Holden spends more time in the city, he learns that he is only getting older and that means he has to develop into a mature and responsible person not only for himself but for the other people around him. At the end of the book, Holden finally has a deeper understanding of himself and the world he lives in. He also learns how to get through situations that are difficult to get through as a young teen. I felt moved by the transitions and character changes that Holden undergoes. As a teen, I understand how Holden feels when he explains his frustration and struggles with maturing to be considered an adult. I also experience these scenarios because as I have grown up, teenagers are expected to be better mannered and more responsible. I think it is important to have life skills as a teen to prepare you for the big world, but sometimes it is still okay to show off your childish personality and innocence. Overall, this book has been very enjoyable and has added a perspective on the challenges teenagers face when finally entering the stage of becoming an adult.
Comments