The Catcher In The Rye: Unreachable Dreams
Many people find that their dreams are unreachable. Holden
Caulfield realizes this in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. As
Holden tells his story, he recounts the events since leaving the Pencey
School to his psychiatrist. At first, Holden sounds like a typical,
misguided teenager, rebellious towards his parents, angry with his teachers,
and flunking out of school. However, as his story progresses, it becomes
clear that Holden is indeed motivated, just not academically. He has a
purpose: to protect the young and innocent minds of young children from the
“horrors” of adult society. He hopes to freeze the children in time, as
wax figures are frozen in a museum. After ...
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concern for my future, all
right. Sure. Sure, I do.' I thought about it for a minute. ‘But not too
much, I guess,'” (14). After leaving Pencey, he checks into a hotel where
he invites a prostitute up to his room. He gets cold feet and decides not
to have intercourse with her, though. Later, Holden decides to take his
old girlfriend, Sally Hayes, to the theater. After taking her to the
theater, Holden formulates a crazy plan which entails running away with
Sally, getting married, and growing old together. Sally thinks that he is
crazy, and she decides to go home. During his stay away from home, Holden
drinks and smokes, showing even more misdirection. However, when Holden
returns home and talks to his sister, Phoebe, his direction becomes clear.
Holden wants to be the Catcher in the Rye to protect children from
the world in which he is forced to live. While talking with Phoebe, she
asks Holden what he would like to be. He responds saying:
"Anyway, I keep picturing all these ...
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The Catcher In The Rye: Unreachable Dreams. (2007, January 24). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Catcher-In-Rye-Unreachable-Dreams/59238
"The Catcher In The Rye: Unreachable Dreams." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 24 Jan. 2007. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Catcher-In-Rye-Unreachable-Dreams/59238>
"The Catcher In The Rye: Unreachable Dreams." Essayworld.com. January 24, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Catcher-In-Rye-Unreachable-Dreams/59238.
"The Catcher In The Rye: Unreachable Dreams." Essayworld.com. January 24, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Catcher-In-Rye-Unreachable-Dreams/59238.
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