At the age of seventeen, most adolescents have to make a decision as to what they will do with their life. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye taking place in New York in the 1950’s, is no different. He decides that he has to “catch everybody if they start to go over a cliff – I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be”. Holden is in the process of transitioning into adulthood; however, he wants to preserve his childhood innocence. He watched as his brother Allie died of leukemia at a young age and can’t bear to think of anyone else missing out on the virtues of childhood. He wants to protect his sister Phoebe from the evil adult world as he encourages her to ride the carousel. Holden himself attempts to venture into society, but can never seem to manage. Going out late at night, drinking, and getting involved with prostitutes are things that Holden tries to do to make the difficult transition. However, Holden faces many internal conflicts that prevent him from entering adulthood. He has flunked out of four preparatory schools and feels abandoned by his parents because he knows they will just send him off to another one without trying to understand the problem. Holden continues to search for his identity, and an answer to where the ducks go when the lagoon in Central Park freezes. All readers will be able to relate to Holden’s frustrations, disappointments, thoughts, and decisions. He proves himself to be complex, sharing the mentality of teenagers today. The audience can connect to Holden’s feelings of isolation and fear of growing up. The theme of Salinger’s book is timeless because Holden’s concerns match those of teenagers everywhere in every era. The Catcher in the Rye is a classic that is truly deserving of
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