Essay Test: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger
Holden Caulfield is the main character in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, who has a very low self-esteem. He's very different from other teenagers in his age -the way he sees things and thinks, and the way he acts. He doesn't follow specific rules in his life, and especially since Allie, his beloved brother, died, his life totally changed. He flunked in school and even thought of taking his own life. Everything dissatisfies Holden -the world full of phonies and the way there's no peaceful place in the world. But Holden didn't give up his life because some little moments and things saved him and made him realize something new -such as the little boy in the curb who was totally unprotected, and the kettle drummer in a play. Here are some of the objects and symbols that help Holden and show Holden's thoughts and emotions as a whole: the ducks at Central Park, the obscenities on the wall, and the carousel ride.
Holden
The Catcher in the Rye
HoldenThe ducks at Central Park: Who cares where they go during the winter? Which ordinary teenager would ever even come close to thinking and wondering and worrying where in the world the ducks would go to? Holden does. He is very different from ordinary teenagers. He worries about these things that others wouldn't even take time thinking about. Holden is lost. He doesn't know where he belongs, and he can't find any safe place for him to go because wherever he went, the place was just full of phonies. So he wonders where the ducks go to during the winter because it must be a safe place since they come back safely afterwards. He wonders if he could go to some place like the...