The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a novel about a young character's growth into maturity. The themes throughout The Catcher in the Rye share a common resemblance with the personality of the main character, Holden Caulfield, which can be easily distinguished by the reader. The significant themes that tie together with Holden's character include the painfulness of growing up, "phoniness" of the adult world, and alienation as a form of self-protection. "…

…Through Holden's expressions of his thoughts and feelings, and the diverse themes throughout the novel, the reader perceives a similar connection between the two. Holden is sensitive and analytical to his surroundings, who chooses to deal with life in unique ways. Like most adolescents, feelings about people and relationships are often on his mind. Unfortunately, in Holden's case, he seems to expect the worst, believing that the result of getting close to people is pain.