Concept of new worlds in "The Catcher In The Rye" and "My Life As A Dog"

How has the concept of ‘new worlds’ been presented by the director and author whose works you have studied?The concept of ‘new worlds’ manifests in some texts as the process of undertaking transformations to altered levels of understanding, realisation and insight. This concept is presented in many works; two examples being the popular novel The Catcher In The Rye (1951) by J.D. Salinger and Lasse Hallström’s award-winning film My Life As A Dog (1985). The two bildungsroman works share similar structures and thematic concerns but differ in modes of production and context.

The Catcher In The Rye was published when American teenagers began to question and challenge conservative social rules through the onset of pop culture and rock and roll. Salinger’s novel in part questions conformity and became a beacon for disheveled youth. The novel is also influenced by Salinger’s experiences of WWII and boarding schools. The book begins with the protagonist recalling four days of “madman stuff” after expulsion at a boarding school which led to self realization.

The Catcher in the Rye

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Catcher in the Rye, Finchley, N3

The concept of new worlds is presented by the author through context, form, and thematic concerns in The Catcher In The Rye.

My Life As A Dog is a positive, nostalgic view of Sweden in the 1950s from a 1980s perspective. Events referred to in the film are Swedish boxing champion Ingemar Johansson winning a world title, and the race to outer space. Despite this, the movie deals with confronting concerns such as mortality. The film follows Ingemar’s transition into adolescence when he is sent off to relatives while his mother “needs to rest” from tuberculosis. After his mother’s death and his dog’s death, Ingemar undergoes a short grieving process from which he realizes that “it could be worse” and all is not lost. The concept of new worlds is presented by the director through the context, form, and thematic concerns in My Life As A Dog.

The Catcher In The Rye uses authentic teenage idiom written as a stream of consciousness in monologue form to present a new world of understanding. Holden moves by association and this unpredictable narration reflects his personality. Repetition, hyperbole and short sentences are consistent throughout the text such as “it really did” and “it killed me”. His transition of new emotions is known when he “miss[es] everybody” when before, he alienates himself as protection. His frequent use of profanity is restrained as coarse language offends him. He envisions himself as the protector of children but later understands that children must take risks and “grab for the gold ring”. Holden sees himself as “illiterate” but mentions many texts like “Hamlet” and “David Copperfield” with similar stories contradicts his harsh self-dismissal. The novel’s structure begins with Holden recalling four days of wandering in New York. The concept of new worlds is presented by the author through the context, form, and thematic concerns in The Catcher In The Rye.

My Life As A Dog uses cinematic techniques such as aerial shots, music, and different filmstocks to display the new world Ingemar enters. The movie is structured like The Catcher In The Rye begining with Ingemar huddled in his uncle’s summerhouse. He parallels himself to Laika, a spacedog who died from starvation “for the benefit of future mankind”, and the aerial shot shows him in a similar capsule. A slanted aerial shot of a steam train as it travels in summer and winter shows that life goes on, similar to the carrousel in The Catcher In The Rye. The movie uses sparse music unlike typical Hollywood films. Simple piano music and grainy sepia filmstock are used when Ingemar reflects on happy times and near the end, a montage of memories is shown ending with his mother screaming. A close-up shot of Ingemar’s smile and a transition of the fire’s glow to water in spring symbolises Ingemar’s transition to his new world. Saga also enters a new world when she accepts her gender by wearing a dress rather than pretending to be male. The closing words, “Ingemar didn’t let us down”, come from the radio when Ingemar Johansson wins the world boxing title for Sweden signalling the end of Ingemar’s transition. The concept of new worlds is presented by the director through the context, form, and thematic concerns in My Life As A Dog.

The Catcher In The Rye explores mortality, innocence of children, and conformity. Holden’s brother Allie dies a premature death from leukaemia and Holden treasures Allie’s baseball mitt, a sign that he has not accepted the death. When questioned to name one thing he likes, James Castle’s suicide at the hands of bullies come to mind. Holden wanted to commit suicide by “jumping out the window” as James Castle did but is held back because he doesn’t want people to look “at me when I was all gory”. Holden pictures himself as the “catcher in the rye” who prevents children from maturing and protector of children who erases all the “dirty” things about life. Holden’s hate of conformity causes himself to alienate from the “phoniness” and “affected” adult world. He is “on the other side” overlooking “phonies” and wears a red hunting hat, a symbol of his individuality where he “shoot[s] people”. Holden’s growth into maturity is brought on by his sister reaching for a gold ring while riding on a carrousel going up and down. The gold ring represents ambitions and the up and down movement symbolises the rollercoaster of life. Holden realises that he cannot stop children from taking risks and everyone must participate in life and have goals. The concept of new worlds is presented by the author through the context, form, and thematic concerns in The Catcher In The Rye.

My Life As A Dog shares thematic concerns with The Catcher In The Rye of mortality and growing up but connects strongly with issues of community. Ingemar suffers the death of the two things he loves most, his mother and dog. He blames himself for his mother’s death and cries “Why did you not want me Mama?”. As Ingemar passes to the new world of adolescence, he experiences pain, insecurity and dislocation. Separated from his immediate family, he is an outsider in an alien landscape unlike Holden in his familiar town. Ingemar remembers his mother when he “put[s] things into perspective” and maintains “a certain distance” from worries. His memories are repeated throughout the film and shows his mother as loving and is confused by her erratic screaming. Feelings of community are strong as everyone looks out for each other. Berit acts as a motherly figure as she finds Ingemar and keeps him warm when he runs away. The supportive community provides little time for Ingemar to grieve and gives him a reason to smile and realise that there are good things in life. The concept of new worlds is presented by the director through the context, form, and thematic concerns in My Life As A Dog.

The concept of new worlds has been presented in The Catcher In The Rye by J.D.Salinger and My Life As A Dog by Lasse Hallström through context, form, and thematic concerns. ‘New worlds’ is a term used when characters enter a new world of understanding, realisation and insight. The two bildungsroman works share similar structure and thematic concerns but differ in context and modes of production.

Bibliography:"The Catcher In The Rye" (1951) - J.D. Salinger"My Life As A Dog" (1985) - Lasse Hallström

Lasse Hallström

Ingemars prylbod

English: Ingemar Johansson Swedish Boxer Suomi: In...