Societal and Individual Interdependency in Salingers Catcher in the Rye :: essays research papers

In a perfect world, everyone would be happy with the way they are and everyone would acquire the differences of others. Unfortunately, the world we live in is non perfect and not everyone accepts who they are . Is there a reason why people cannot be content with their lives or with the differences of other people? The answer is yes, and the reason for the discontent is society. With society telling the masses what is, and is not acceptable, it is no wonder that people seem lost, and are desperately searching out their place in the sun. This search for identity seems to be the case in JD Salingers novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Through settings in the novel and symbolism, Salinger illustrates that while the main character, Holden Caulfield, needs the support of the environment around him, the environment also needs Holden as a person. Holden Caulfield is out of place in any environment in which he is placed. At Pencey, his school, Holden gets excluded from the activities of his cla ssmates. At the very beginning of the novel, Holden becomes expelled because his grades are not up to Penceys standards and also because he does not feel like he belongs there. Holden separates himself from his classmates for the most part by not becoming involved in the school. Although Holden is the equipment manager of the fencing team, he distances himself from his companions by losing the equipment, presentation that he does not fit in, and he really does not want to. As he reflects back on his final day at Pencey he says They kicked me out. ...I was flunking four subjects and not applying myself at all. They gave me frequent warnings to start applying myself...but I didnt do it (Salinger 4). The school is throwing Holden out because he is not what they want to represent to probable students. They want to show examples of fine, upstanding young men, instead of giving off the image of the failing, confused young man. Salinger uses Pencey as a mock society of few sorts. Holde n does not fit in at Pencey, and he most definitely does not fit in as seen in the later settings of the novel. A act example of Holdens isolation from his classmates can also be seen when he stands alone on the top of the hill during the big game.