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Example research essay topic: J D Salinger First Person Point - 1,293 words

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... a phony or moron. This behavior is seen when Holden comes in contact with Sally Hayes. Holden is talking of her somewhat positively, but then when she answers, Yes-who is this? Holden calls her a little phony. Id already told her father who it was. (Salinger 106).

As Holden's realization that she is not what he is looking for becomes clearer so does his anger with her. He later continues his attempts to have Sally fill the emptiness he yearns to fill by asking her to marry him, and does not give up until she finally leaves. Salinger also uses some characters to reveal past behaviors of Holden to clarify if not reinforce current behaviors. Salinger uses Holden's meeting with Carl Luce to give a more broad perspective on his behavior. Once again, this reinforces that others consider Holden to have some significant problems, but Salinger takes this viewpoint further in this chapter. Carl indicates that Holden's behavior when they meet at the Wicker Bar is typical behavior, and not the product of his altered psychological state.

Holden has been suffering from his current problems since he went to Wooden with Carl Luce, and these problems have been significant; Carl even had suggested psychiatric treatment for Holden, a relatively significant recommendation in an era when therapy was highly stigmatized. Furthermore, this diagnosis comes from one of Holden's peers. This perspective on Holden's problems cannot be dismissed as easily as others, for Carl's recommendation is not the advice of the elderly Mr. Spencer or another authority figure who presumably could not understand Holden's problems.

Another two characters important to Holden's as well as the themes development are two Pencey students whom represent contrasting types of reprehensible behavior. Ackley is showily boorish; in appearance and in manners he is disgusting and oblivious to all social graces. Hopelessly vulgar and unclean, Ackley is unaware of the contempt that Holden has for him, even when confronted with it. Stradlater, in contrast, is outwardly friendly and considerate; yet still one of the phonies that Holden abhors. Stradlater is playful and charming, but is still self-centered and arrogant. He flaunts his assets, whether physical or financially; whether giving away a tie or walking around the dormitory in a state of undress, he performs these actions to show what he possesses.

These characters do, nevertheless, serve the purpose of showing the oppressive conditions that Holden faces at Pencey. Ackley and Stradlater demonstrate that Holden's disgust for the school and its "phonies" is not completely unfounded. In addition, they begin to show the unreliability of Holden's descriptions of people he comes in contact with. They are at the top of a long list of characters that Holden does not like, and will illustrate how the point of view of the story will affect perceptions of Holden and other characters.

The story is told in first person point of view narrated by Holden Caulfield. First person point of view reveals Holden's memories, motivations, and thoughts. The first person point of view allows the reader to slowly learn that Holden might be mentally sick. Do to the first person point of view; Ackley and Stradlater appear to really be morons and unlikable characters. However, as Holden continues to view more and more character under the same light Holden, himself, is seen as the flawed individual. Through the telling of the story, Holden has given shape to, and thus achieved control of, his troubled past" (Davis 318).

Likewise, first-person point of view provides insight into the thoughts and reasoning of an adolescent trying to survive in the modern word. First person point of view reveals how a boy can create his own world of fantasy and live forms. Symbolism is used by Salinger to exemplify the struggle of a child trying to grow up in an stressful modern society. The fact that Holden has flunked out of three Pennsylvania prep schools, symbolizes that he is not truly ready for adulthood. Holden was supposed to make his transition into adulthood during his years at preparatory school, but did not. In addition, Holden's consistent questioning of what the ducks do when the river freezes over symbolizes Holden's search for belonging ness.

Holden's pond is his childhood. Holden knows he needs to grow up, and like the ducks he needs to figure out where he will go. Holden has also been somewhat forced into adulthood by his gray hairs and his height. This only strengthens the fact that Holden, like the ducks, is being forced to leave his home by nature. Salinger also uses symbolism to illustrate Holden's quest for communicability and purpose in life.

Caulfield's inability to communicate with others is represented symbolically in the uncompleted phone calls and undelivered messages, which appear throughout the novel. On fifteen separate occasions, Holden gets the urge to communicate by phone, yet only four phone calls are ever completed, and even those are with unfortunate results (Kegel 55). Holden, like most youth has a problem finding someone that he can talk to that can understand him. Holden's search for communicability with others, and Holden's first person after-the-fact narration indicates he has been successful in his search. Additionally, the shattered record symbolizes if not foreshadows the shattering of Holden's dream to be able to take care of children. Holden wishes to be catcher in the rye, and hears the song right after he buys the record.

He wishes to give the record to Phoebe, but it breaks, symbolizing his inability to protect children from the phoniness of the adult world. Holden has once again lost his purpose in life. In essence, Holden Caulfield is a good guy stuck in a bad world. He is trying to make the best of his life, though ultimately losing that battle. Whereas he aims at stability and truth, the adult world cannot survive without suspense and lies.

It is a testament to his innocence and decent spirit that Holden would place the safety and well being of children as a goal in his lifetime. This serves to only re-iterate the fact that Holden is a sympathetic character, a person of high moral values who is too weak to pick himself up from a difficult situation. The richness in the spirit J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, especially of the vision, the compassion, and the humor of the narrator takes an extensive evaluation of how lost, lonely, and confused adolescence can feel when growing up.

Although not all youth are driven to the point Holden Caulfield is, many think about running away and being their own person. Most, however, probably do not want to run away and become a catcher in the rye. Who in their right mind would ever want to do that? Costello, D.

P. Holden Caulfield. The Language of The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Davis, Robert Con, ed.

Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 56. Detroit: Gail Research Inc. , 1989. Engle, Paul. "Honest Tale of Distraught Adolescent. " Rev.

of The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger. Chicago Sunday Tribune Magazine of Books 15 July 1951, 3.

Kegel, Charles. "In communicability in Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. " Studies in J. D. Salinger: Reviews, Essays, and Critiques of 'The Catcher in the Rye' and Other Fiction. Ed. Marvin Laser. New York: Odyssey Press, 1963. 53 - 56.

Lomazoff, Eric. The Praises and Criticisms of J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.

J. D. Salinger 1996. World Wide Web 28 July 2000 web salinger 1.

htm . Phillips, Brian. The Catcher in the Rye Context. Spark Notes. Jan. 2000. World Wide Web. 28 July 2000 web Salinger, Jerome D.

The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1951. Bibliography:


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Research essay sample on J D Salinger First Person Point

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