Catcher In The Rye Essays (927 words) - Literary Realism

Catcher In The Rye Holden Caulfield's Perception and Gradual Acceptance of the Real World. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden views the world as an evil place where there is no peace. This perception of the world does not change significantly throughout novel. However, as the novel progresses, Holden gradually comes to the realization that he is powerless to change this corruption. During the short span of Holden's life covered in this book, Holden does succeed in making us perceive that the world is crazy. Shortly after Holden leaves Pencey Prep, he checks in to the Edmont Hotel. This is where Holden's turmoil begins. Holden spends the following evening in this hotel, which was full of perverts and morons. There were screwballs all over the place. His situation only deteriorates from this point forward as the more he looks around this world, the more depressing life seems. Around every corner Holden sees evil. He looks out on a world which appears completely immoral and unprincipled. The three days we learn of from the novel place a distressed Holden in the vicinity of Manhattan. The city is decked with decorations and holiday splendor, yet, much to Holden's despair, seldom yields any occasions of peace, charity or even genuine merriment. Holden is surrounded by what he views as drunks, perverts, morons and screwballs. These convictions which Holden holds waver momentarily during only one particular scene in the book. The scene is that with Mr. Antolini. After Mr. Antolini patted Holden on the head while he was sleeping, Holden jumped up and ran out thinking that Mr. Antolini was a pervert as well. This is the only time during the novel when Holden thinks twice about considering someone as a pervert. After reviewing Mr. Antolini, Holden finally concludes that maybe he wasn't making a flitty pass at him. Maybe he just liked patting guys' heads as they sleep. This is really the only time in the novel where Holden actually considers a positive side. This event does not constitute a significant change. As Holden himself says, It's not too bad when the sun's out, but the sun only comes out when it feels like coming out. The sun is a reference to decency through the common association of light and goodness. His perception of the world remains the same. The one conviction that does change during the novel is Holden's belief that he can change the world. On his date with Sally, Holden reveals his feelings. Did you ever get fed up?... I mean did you ever get scared that everything was going to go lousy unless you did something...? Holden goes through several plans. He at one point contemplates heading out west where he will pretend to be a deaf-mute and live a quiet life. At another point, Holden proposes to Sally to escape this world with him. It is finally to his younger sister Phoebe that Holden reveals his ultimate plan. Although Holden describes the situation in a very colorful and symbolic manner, he essentially tells Phoebe that he wants to prevent children from growing up. He blames the world's corruption on adults and believes that when he stops the children from growing up, he will preserve their innocence and save the world. It takes most of the book before Holden begins to realize that he is helpless to stop this corruption. Finally, he realizes that not only is there nothing that he can do, but there is nowhere he can go to hide from it. Holden takes a while to comprehend these concepts. One good example is when Holden is delivering the note to his sister. He encounters a *censored*-you written on the wall. Holden careful rubs this off with his hand so as to protect the innocent children from reading it. Later on, he finds *censored*-you scratched into the surface with a knife. He discovers that he can't efface this one. Even in the timeless peace of the Egyptian tomb room at the museum, there is an un-erasable *censored*-you. This incident is the beginning of Holden's realization that his dreams are unattainable. Ironically enough, it is one of the innocent children whom he is trying to protect who finally helps him come to terms with this realization. It is Phoebe who challenges his plan to escape out west. As he is telling Phoebe that she can not run away, he discovers that he too can not run away. You can't ever find a place that is nice and peaceful because there isn't any. The final